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Gut-Joint Axis: The Role of Physical Exercise on Gut Microbiota Modulation in Older People with Osteoarthritis.
de Sire, A, de Sire, R, Petito, V, Masi, L, Cisari, C, Gasbarrini, A, Scaldaferri, F, Invernizzi, M
Nutrients. 2020;(2)
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered one of the most common joint disorders worldwide and its prevalence is constantly increasing due to the global longevity and changes in eating habits and lifestyle. In this context, the role of gut microbiota (GM) in the pathogenesis of OA is still unclear. Perturbation of GM biodiversity and function, defined as 'gut dysbiosis', might be involved in the development of inflammaging, one of the main risk factors of OA development. It is well known that physical exercise could play a key role in the prevention and treatment of several chronic diseases including OA, and it is recommended by several guidelines as a first line intervention. Several studies have shown that physical exercise could modulate GM composition, boosting intestinal mucosal immunity, increasing the Bacteroidetes-Firmicutes ratio, modifying the bile acid profile, and improving the production of short chain fatty acids. Moreover, it has been shown that low intensity exercise might reduce the risk of gastrointestinal diseases, confirming the hypothesis of a strict correlation between skeletal muscle and GM. However, up to date, there is still a lack of clinical trials focusing on this research field. Therefore, in this narrative, we aimed to summarize the state-of-the-art of the literature regarding the correlation between these conditions, supporting the hypothesis of a 'gut-joint axis' and highlighting the role of physical exercise combined with adequate diet and probiotic supplements in rebalancing microbial dysbiosis.
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A systematic review on the role of microbiota in the pathogenesis and treatment of eating disorders.
Carbone, EA, D'Amato, P, Vicchio, G, De Fazio, P, Segura-Garcia, C
European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists. 2020;(1):e2
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Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing interest in new factors contributing to the genesis of eating disorders (EDs). Research recently focused on the study of microbiota. Dysbiosis, associated with a specific genetic susceptibility, may contribute to the development of anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder, and several putative mechanisms have already been identified. Diet seems to have an impact not only on modification of the gut microbiota, facilitating dysbiosis, but also on its recovery in patients with EDs. METHODS This systematic review based on the PICO strategy searching into PubMed, EMBASE, PsychINFO, and Cochrane Library examined the literature on the role of altered microbiota in the pathogenesis and treatment of EDs. RESULTS Sixteen studies were included, mostly regarding AN. Alpha diversity and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels were lower in patients with AN, and affective symptoms and ED psychopathology seem related to changes in gut microbiota. Microbiota-derived proteins stimulated the autoimmune system, altering neuroendocrine control of mood and satiety in EDs. Microbial richness increased in AN after weight regain on fecal microbiota transplantation. CONCLUSIONS Microbiota homeostasis seems essential for a healthy communication network between gut and brain. Dysbiosis may promote intestinal inflammation, alter gut permeability, and trigger immune reactions in the hunger/satiety regulation center contributing to the pathophysiological development of EDs. A restored microbial balance may be a possible treatment target for EDs. A better and more in-depth characterization of gut microbiota and gut-brain crosstalk is required. Future studies may deepen the therapeutic and preventive role of microbiota in EDs.
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Population Genetics in the Human Microbiome.
Garud, NR, Pollard, KS
Trends in genetics : TIG. 2020;(1):53-67
Abstract
While the human microbiome's structure and function have been extensively studied, its within-species genetic diversity is less well understood. However, genetic mutations in the microbiome can confer biomedically relevant traits, such as the ability to extract nutrients from food, metabolize drugs, evade antibiotics, and communicate with the host immune system. The population genetic processes by which these traits evolve are complex, in part due to interacting ecological and evolutionary forces in the microbiome. Advances in metagenomic sequencing, coupled with bioinformatics tools and population genetic models, facilitate quantification of microbiome genetic variation and inferences about how this diversity arises, evolves, and correlates with traits of both microbes and hosts. In this review, we explore the population genetic forces (mutation, recombination, drift, and selection) that shape microbiome genetic diversity within and between hosts, as well as efforts towards predictive models that leverage microbiome genetics.
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A good start in life is important-perinatal factors dictate early microbiota development and longer term maturation.
Wang, S, Egan, M, Ryan, CA, Boyaval, P, Dempsey, EM, Ross, RP, Stanton, C
FEMS microbiology reviews. 2020;(6):763-781
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Abstract
Maternal health status is vital for the development of the offspring of humans, including physiological health and psychological functions. The complex and diverse microbial ecosystem residing within humans contributes critically to these intergenerational impacts. Perinatal factors, including maternal nutrition, antibiotic use and maternal stress, alter the maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy, which can be transmitted to the offspring. In addition, gestational age at birth and mode of delivery are indicated frequently to modulate the acquisition and development of gut microbiota in early life. The early-life gut microbiota engages in a range of host biological processes, particularly immunity, cognitive neurodevelopment and metabolism. The perturbed early-life gut microbiota increases the risk for disease in early and later life, highlighting the importance of understanding relationships of perinatal factors with early-life microbial composition and functions. In this review, we present an overview of the crucial perinatal factors and summarise updated knowledge of early-life microbiota, as well as how the perinatal factors shape gut microbiota in short and long terms. We further discuss the clinical consequences of perturbations of early-life gut microbiota and potential therapeutic interventions with probiotics/live biotherapeutics.
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Celiac disease: a multi-faceted medical condition.
Domsa, EM, Berindan-Neagoe, I, Para, I, Munteanu, L, Matei, D, Andreica, V
Journal of physiology and pharmacology : an official journal of the Polish Physiological Society. 2020;(1)
Abstract
Celiac disease (CD) is a systemic condition of autoimmune origin, affecting genetically predisposed individuals who at some point lose tolerance towards dietary gluten. Prevalence in the general population is 0.5 - 1%, with a higher frequency in women. The most important environmental factor for CD is ingestion of specific gluten peptides. It triggers a sequence of molecular events, involving the intestinal permeability and the immune system, which ends in damage of the intestinal mucosa. A number of studies have demonstrated the correlation between the intestinal microbiota and celiac disease. MicroRNAs through their regulatory role on gene expression have been implicated in the pathogenesis of CD and suggested as potential biomarkers. In the pediatric and adult population, CD displays different clusters of clinical symptoms. Persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain and involuntary weight loss are the classic symptoms of CD. In the majority of cases diagnosis relies on the combination of serum autoantibodies (anti-transglutaminase and anti-endomisium IgA) and duodenal biopsy showing villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia and intraepithelial lymphocytes. Observance of a lifelong gluten-free diet, which interrupts the immune response to gluten peptides, is the only effective treatment of CD.
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Perinatal factors affecting the gut microbiota - are they preventable?
Zietek, M, Szczuko, M, Celewicz, Z, Kordek, A
Ginekologia polska. 2020;(11):709-713
Abstract
Intestinal microbiota affects many aspects of physiological processes. The type of microbiota in the early stages of life is a critical element conditioning the development of the immune response and food tolerance. Disturbed colonization of the digestive tract resulting from the amount or diversity of bacteria colonies stimulates an inflammatory response that is associated in later life with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. One of the elements disturbing normal colonization in the perinatal period is the operative way of delivery by caesarean section and the administration of antibiotics, used as a prophylactic measure as well as for therapeutic reasons. Based on the current state of knowledge, there is a lot of evidence demonstrating the long-term adverse effects of these modifying agents for gut microbiota, which should be kept to a minimum as far as possible.
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Effect of Gluten-Free Diet on Gut Microbiota Composition in Patients with Celiac Disease and Non-Celiac Gluten/Wheat Sensitivity.
Caio, G, Lungaro, L, Segata, N, Guarino, M, Zoli, G, Volta, U, De Giorgio, R
Nutrients. 2020;(6)
Abstract
Celiac disease (CD) and non-celiac gluten/wheat sensitivity (NCG/WS) are the two most frequent conditions belonging to gluten-related disorders (GRDs). Both these diseases are triggered and worsened by gluten proteins ingestion, although other components, such as amylase/trypsin inhibitors (ATI) and fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs), seem to be involved in the NCG/WS onset. Therefore, the only effective treatment to date is the long-life adherence to a strictly gluten-free diet. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the intestinal barrier, a dynamic system comprising various components, which regulate the delicate crosstalk between metabolic, motor, neuroendocrine and immunological functions. Among the elements characterizing the intestinal barrier, the microbiota plays a key role, modulating the gut integrity maintenance, the immune response and the inflammation process, linked to the CD and NCG/WS outbreak. This narrative review addresses the most recent findings on the gut microbiota modulation induced by the gluten-free diet (GFD) in healthy, CD and NCG/WS patients.
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Escherichiacoli-Specific CD4+ T Cells Have Public T-Cell Receptors and Low Interleukin 10 Production in Crohn's Disease.
Uchida, AM, Boden, EK, James, EA, Shows, DM, Konecny, AJ, Lord, JD
Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology. 2020;(3):507-526
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Crohn's disease (CD) likely represents decreased immune tolerance to intestinal bacterial antigens. Most CD patients have high titers of antibodies to intestinal commensal proteins, including the outer membrane porin C (OmpC) of Escherichia coli. METHODS By using major histocompatibility complex II tetramers, we identified an HLA-DRB1∗15:01-restricted peptide epitope of OmpC recognized by CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HLA-DRB1∗15:01+ healthy control (HC) and CD patients. RESULTS The precursor frequency of these cells in CD correlated with anti-OmpC IgA titers, but did not differ from that of HCs. In both cohorts, they showed a CD161+, integrin α4β7+ phenotype ex vivo by flow cytometry, distinct from the C-X-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 3 phenotype of autologous influenza hemagglutinin (Flu) peptide-specific T cells. The T-cell receptor α and β chains of in vitro-expanded OmpC-specific T-cell clones often contained public amino acid sequences that were identical in cells from different patients. Expanded T-cell clones from CD subjects produced significantly less interleukin (IL)10 (P < .0001) than those from HCs, and a trend toward decreased production of the T helper 2 cell-associated IL4, IL5, and IL13 by CD clones also was seen. CONCLUSIONS Both HCs and CD patients have detectable OmpC-specific T cells in circulation, with similar immunophenotypes and often identical T-cell-receptor sequences. However, expanded clones from patients with CD produce less of the immunoregulatory cytokine IL10, showing a selective defect in the regulatory function of intestinal microbial antigen-specific T cells in patients with CD.
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Nutrition, Microbiota and Role of Gut-Brain Axis in Subjects with Phenylketonuria (PKU): A Review.
Verduci, E, Carbone, MT, Borghi, E, Ottaviano, E, Burlina, A, Biasucci, G
Nutrients. 2020;(11)
Abstract
The composition and functioning of the gut microbiota, the complex population of microorganisms residing in the intestine, is strongly affected by endogenous and exogenous factors, among which diet is key. Important perturbations of the microbiota have been observed to contribute to disease risk, as in the case of neurological disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, among others. Although mechanisms are not fully clarified, nutrients interacting with the microbiota are thought to affect host metabolism, immune response or disrupt the protective functions of the intestinal barrier. Similarly, key intermediaries, whose presence may be strongly influenced by dietary habits, sustain the communication along the gut-brain-axis, influencing brain functions in the same way as the brain influences gut activity. Due to the role of diet in the modulation of the microbiota, its composition is of high interest in inherited errors of metabolism (IEMs) and may reveal an appealing therapeutic target. In IEMs, for example in phenylketonuria (PKU), since part of the therapeutic intervention is based on chronic or life-long tailored dietetic regimens, important variations of the microbial diversity or relative abundance have been observed. A holistic approach, including a healthy composition of the microbiota, is recommended to modulate host metabolism and affected neurological functions.
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The athletic gut microbiota.
Mohr, AE, Jäger, R, Carpenter, KC, Kerksick, CM, Purpura, M, Townsend, JR, West, NP, Black, K, Gleeson, M, Pyne, DB, et al
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2020;(1):24
Abstract
The microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract play a significant role in nutrient uptake, vitamin synthesis, energy harvest, inflammatory modulation, and host immune response, collectively contributing to human health. Important factors such as age, birth method, antibiotic use, and diet have been established as formative factors that shape the gut microbiota. Yet, less described is the role that exercise plays, particularly how associated factors and stressors, such as sport/exercise-specific diet, environment, and their interactions, may influence the gut microbiota. In particular, high-level athletes offer remarkable physiology and metabolism (including muscular strength/power, aerobic capacity, energy expenditure, and heat production) compared to sedentary individuals, and provide unique insight in gut microbiota research. In addition, the gut microbiota with its ability to harvest energy, modulate the immune system, and influence gastrointestinal health, likely plays an important role in athlete health, wellbeing, and sports performance. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms in which the gut microbiota could play in the role of influencing athletic performance is of considerable interest to athletes who work to improve their results in competition as well as reduce recovery time during training. Ultimately this research is expected to extend beyond athletics as understanding optimal fitness has applications for overall health and wellness in larger communities. Therefore, the purpose of this narrative review is to summarize current knowledge of the athletic gut microbiota and the factors that shape it. Exercise, associated dietary factors, and the athletic classification promote a more "health-associated" gut microbiota. Such features include a higher abundance of health-promoting bacterial species, increased microbial diversity, functional metabolic capacity, and microbial-associated metabolites, stimulation of bacterial abundance that can modulate mucosal immunity, and improved gastrointestinal barrier function.