Published: 30 October, 2024 | Volume 8 - Issue 1 | Pages: 011-025
Figure 3:
The healthy intestinal biome consists of a large diversity of organisms and an abundance of healthy bacteria illustrated here as multiple colors and shapes within the lumen. These healthy bacteria secrete various metabolic substances (SCFAs, polyamines, and many others) which help keep pathogens in check and contribute to the health of the mucosal lining. The mucus membrane also helps deter bacterial invasion as do antibacterial IgA antibodies and b-defensins. With dysbiosis, there is a significant decrease in diversity and a relative increase in pathogens. Fewer SCFAs and other protective metabolites are produced. An increase in toxic bacterial metabolites may lead to damaged luminal epithelia cells and decreased production of mucus. This can lead to a “leaky gut” allowing bacteria to cross the luminal membrane releasing toxic metabolites and causing low-grade endotoxemia. This incites an innate immune response with the production of proinflammatory cytokines. This inflammation, along with toxic metabolites produced by pathogens, can cause damage locally but also leads to accelerated damage in numerous other organs and ultimately accelerated aging. See text for additional details. IgA: Immunoglobulin A, IL: interleukin, SCFA: Short chain fatty acids, TNFa: tumor necrosis factor alpha.
Read Full Article HTML DOI: 10.29328/journal.ibm.1001028 Cite this Article Read Full Article PDF
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