Abstract

The human gut microbiota, a complex community of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract, plays a pivotal role in modulating host immune system function and influencing the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. This review explores the dynamic interactions between gut microbiota and the immune system, focusing on mechanisms, clinical implications, and therapeutic strategies.

Mechanisms of Influence: Gut microbiota influence immune responses through various mechanisms, including the induction of regulatory T cells (Tregs), secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and modulation of intestinal barrier integrity. Microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) further contribute to immune regulation by interacting with host immune cells.

Association with Inflammatory Diseases: Dysbiosis, characterized by alterations in gut microbial composition, is linked to inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis, and allergies. Imbalances in microbiota can disrupt immune homeostasis, leading to chronic inflammation and disease exacerbation.

Clinical Implications: Microbiota-targeted interventions, including probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), offer therapeutic strategies to restore microbial balance, alleviate inflammation, and improve clinical outcomes in inflammatory diseases. Dietary interventions that promote microbial diversity and SCFA production also show promise in supporting immune health.

Future Directions: Future research should focus on identifying specific microbial species and metabolites critical to immune regulation, conducting longitudinal studies to understand temporal changes in microbiota composition and immune responses, and developing personalized microbiota-based therapies for inflammatory disease management. This review underscores the importance of understanding gut microbiota-immune interactions in health and disease, highlighting the potential for microbiota-based interventions to optimize immune function and mitigate inflammatory pathology.