Medicin 3 (Neurology Department), Slagelse Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark.
Oncology Department, Vejle Hospital, Vejle, Denmark.
J Med Microbiol. 2024 Nov;73(11). doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.001921.
The growing interest in microbiota-epigenetics-immune system research stems from the understanding that microbiota, a group of micro-organisms colonized in the human body, can influence the gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms and interaction with the immune system. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene activity that are not caused by the alteration in the DNA sequence itself. The clinical significance of this research lies in the potential to develop new therapies for diseases linked to the imbalance of these microbial species (dysbiosis), such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The intricate interaction between microbiota and epigenetics involves the production of metabolites and signalling molecules that can impact our health by influencing immune responses, metabolism and inflammation. Understanding these interactions could lead to novel therapeutic strategies targeting microbiota-epigenetic pathways to improve health outcomes. In this context, we aim to review and emphasize the current knowledge and key concepts that link the microbiota to epigenetics and immune system function, exploring their relevance to the development and maintenance of homeostasis and susceptibility to different diseases later in life. We aim to elucidate key concepts concerning the interactions and potential effects among the human gut microbiota, epigenetics, the immune system and ageing diseases linked to dysbiosis.
人们对微生物组-表观遗传学-免疫系统研究的兴趣日益浓厚，其原因在于人们已经认识到，定植于人体的微生物群可以通过表观遗传机制以及与免疫系统的相互作用来影响基因表达。表观遗传学是指基因活性的变化，而这种变化不是由 DNA 序列本身的改变引起的。这项研究的临床意义在于有可能为与这些微生物物种失衡（失调）相关的疾病（如癌症和神经退行性疾病）开发新的治疗方法。微生物组和表观遗传学之间的复杂相互作用涉及代谢物和信号分子的产生，这些代谢物和信号分子可以通过影响免疫反应、代谢和炎症来影响我们的健康。了解这些相互作用可能会导致针对微生物组-表观遗传途径的新型治疗策略的出现，从而改善健康结果。在这方面，我们旨在回顾和强调将微生物组与表观遗传学和免疫系统功能联系起来的当前知识和关键概念，探讨它们与内稳定和对生命后期不同疾病易感性的发展和维持的相关性。我们旨在阐明与人类肠道微生物组、表观遗传学、免疫系统和与失调相关的衰老疾病之间的相互作用以及潜在影响有关的关键概念。
