Gut Microbiota Modulation in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Summary
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, arise from a complex interplay between host genetics, immune responses and the intestinal microbiota. Dysbiosis, characterised by reduced bacterial diversity, diminished Firmicutes and expansion of Proteobacteria, is a hallmark of IBD. This microbial imbalance contributes to barrier disruption, aberrant immune activation and chronic inflammation. Therapeutic strategies now aim to restore microbial equilibrium through dietary interventions, next-generation probiotics, microbial metabolites and faecal microbiota transplantation – each designed to reinforce epithelial integrity, promote anti-inflammatory pathways and recalibrate host–microbe signalling. Short-chain fatty acids, notably butyrate, serve as key mediators of epithelial health and regulatory T-cell induction, while host receptors such as PPARγ and adenosine 2A receptor integrate microbial cues into anti-inflammatory programmes. Advances in omics and refined animal models have illuminated mechanisms by which specific taxa and their metabolites confer protection, paving the way for precision microbiota modulation. Given the global burden of IBD, translating these insights into safe, targeted therapies promises to transform management and improve long-term outcomes.
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Gut Microbiota Modulation in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in gut microbiota modulation in inflammatory bowel diseases across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Gut microbiota: the community of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract.
Dysbiosis: an imbalance in microbial composition associated with disease processes.
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs): metabolites produced by microbial fermentation of dietary fibres that support epithelial health.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ): a nuclear receptor that regulates inflammation and barrier integrity.
Adenosine 2A receptor (A2AR): a cell-surface receptor mediating anti-inflammatory signalling in the gut.
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT): the transfer of screened faecal material to restore a healthy microbial ecosystem.
References
- Proteobacteria: A Common Factor in Human Diseases. BioMed Research International (2017).
- The gut microbiota and inflammatory bowel disease. Seminars in Immunopathology (2014).
- Gut microbiota from green tea polyphenol-dosed mice improves intestinal epithelial homeostasis and ameliorates experimental colitis. Microbiome (2021).
- Gut microbiota-derived inosine from dietary barley leaf supplementation attenuates colitis through PPARγ signaling activation. Microbiome (2021).
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