The gut microbiome and its marriage to the immune system: Can we change it all?

Abstract

Major research efforts during the past decades have revealed the close interaction between the host immune system and the symbionts colonizing the surfaces of the human body. Due to the high number of microbes found in this environment correlating with its role as an essential immune organ, the gastrointestinal tract has been a major focus of research. This chapter reviews current knowledge regarding the role of microbial colonization with beneficial microbes and the influence of released mediators on innate as well as adaptive immune cells. Several life style factors seems to substantially influence the composition of the microbiome especially during the first period of life. Nevertheless, also later in life factors such as dietary habits, medication intake or life style might alter the gut microbiota. Thus, strategies to beneficially modulate the overall microbial composition are essential to treat dysbiosis, which has been described to contribute to the onset or progression of various immune mediated intestinal diseases.