Temperature as a modulator of the gut microbiome: what are the implications and opportunities for thermal medicine?

Abstract

There is substantial research being conducted on the relationships between the gut microbiome, the immune response and health and disease. Environmental temperature and heat stress are known to modify the gut microbiome. Changes in core temperature have been linked, in multiple phyla, to altered microbiome composition and function. This raises the question of whether local/regional or whole body thermal therapies which target tumors in the abdomen, peritoneal cavity, or pelvis influence the gut microbiome. To date, there is little information on whether thermal therapy exerts positive or negative effects on the microbiome. This is an intriguing question since there is growing interest in the immunological impact of various thermal therapies. The goal of this brief review is to highlight research on how environmental conditions, particularly temperature (internal as well as external temperatures) influences the gut microbiome. Given the potential for temperature shifts to modulate gut microbe function and composition, it is likely that various forms of thermal therapy, including hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), deep regional, and whole body hyperthermia influence the microbiome in ways that are currently not appreciated. More research is needed to determine whether thermal therapy induced changes in the microbiome occur, and whether they are beneficial or detrimental to the host. Currently, although approaches to microbiome modification such as dietary intervention, fecal transfer, probiotics and prebiotics are being developed, the potential of temperature manipulation has, as yet, not been explored. Therefore, new research could reveal whether perturbations of the microbiome composition that have negative health consequences (dysbiosis) could be an important target for treatment by thermal medicine.

Keywords: Microbiome; hyperthermia; immune response; temperature; thermal therapy.

Figure 1.

Under normal conditions, the microbiome and the immune system interact to regulate each other and maintain a homeostatic balance. The composition of the microbiome is sensitive to environmental factors such as diet and a variety of other stressors (including temperature) and dysbiosis is associated with several disease states. It has been reported that the composition of the microbiome directly regulates response to anti-cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, the effect of thermal therapy of the microbiome and anti-tumor immune response is unknown.