Inflammatory bowel disease: A key role for microbiota?

Abstract

The human gut microbiota comprises wide diversity of microorganisms consisting of bacteria, viruses and eukaryotes. This normal flora plays a critical role in maintaining the gut's wellbeing and integrity of gut immunity. The interaction among gut microbiota and host immune system influences the normal balance in the gut and any mal-interaction contributes to the development of diseases. IBD is characterized by dysbiosis of gut normal flora compared to healthy state, yet no specific pattern of dysbiosis has been found. Dysbiosis affects the immune response which encourage the incidence of IBD. Different environmental factors contribute to the microbiota diversity and pattern throughout the human life. This review describes the alteration of normal gut microbiota in patients with IBD and how environmental factors including mode of birth, breastfeeding, diet, antibiotics use, smoking, BMI, medications intake and pollution alter the gut's normal flora contributing to the incidence of IBD. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.