Regulation of intestinal Th17 and Treg cells by gut microbiota

Abstract

Dysbiosis, an imbalance in the gut microbiota composition, is significantly associated with inflammatory bowel disease and other immune disorders. Dysbiosis can dysregulate immune system, compromise mucosal barrier integrity, and perpetuate chronic inflammation. Therefore, gut microbiota manipulation could be potentially used for treating various inflammatory diseases. Various intestinal bacteria differentially regulate the development and function of different immune cell populations. In particular, bacterial species falling within clusters VI and XIVa of the class Clostridia affect the generation and function of mucosal regulatory T cells, whereas segmented filamentous bacteria are the strong inducers for T helper 17 cells. This review discusses how the components of the gut microbiota affect the host immune system and disease susceptibility.