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Review
. 2021 Apr;18(4):866-877.
doi: 10.1038/s41423-021-00661-4. Epub 2021 Mar 11.

Gut microbiota-derived metabolites in the regulation of host immune responses and immune-related inflammatory diseases

Wenjing Yang  1 , Yingzi Cong  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Gut microbiota-derived metabolites in the regulation of host immune responses and immune-related inflammatory diseases

Wenjing Yang et al. Cell Mol Immunol. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

The gut microbiota has a critical role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis. Alterations in the intestinal microbiota and gut microbiota-derived metabolites have been recognized in many immune-related inflammatory disorders. These metabolites can be produced by gut microbiota from dietary components or by the host and can be modified by gut bacteria or synthesized de novo by gut bacteria. Gut microbiota-derived metabolites influence a plethora of immune cell responses, including T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages. Some of these metabolites are involved in the pathogenesis of immune-related inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Here, we review the role of microbiota-derived metabolites in regulating the functions of different immune cells and the pathogenesis of chronic immune-related inflammatory diseases.

Keywords: B cells; T cells; autoimmune diseases; gut microbiota; metabolites.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Production of gut microbiota-derived metabolites. Gut microbiota-derived metabolites can be produced by gut microbiota from dietary components (a), by the host and modified by gut bacteria (b), and synthesized de novo by gut bacteria (c). BCAAs branched-chain amino acids, SCFAs short-chain fatty acids, TMAO trimethylamine-N-oxide
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effects of gut microbiota-derived metabolites on T cells. Microbiota-derived metabolites differentially modulate T cell functions. Aldh1a2 retinal dehydrogenase aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A2, BCAAs branched-chain amino acids, DC dendritic cell, IEL intraepithelial lymphocyte, IDO1 indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1, LCA lithocholic acid, NKT natural killer T cells, MAIT mucosal-associated invariant T cell, SCFAs short-chain fatty acids, 5-OP-RU 5-(2-oxopropylideneamino)-6-d-ribitylaminouracil, 6-FP 6-formylpterin
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Effects of gut microbiota-derived metabolites on B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Microbiota-derived metabolites regulate various types of immune cells. Aldh1a2 retinal dehydrogenase aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A2, BCAAs branched-chain amino acids, DC dendritic cell, DCA deoxycholate, SCFAs short-chain fatty acids, TMAO trimethylamine-N-oxide
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Gut microbiota-derived metabolites and immune-related inflammatory diseases. Certain gut microbiota-derived metabolites regulate the pathogenesis of various immune-related chronic inflammatory diseases. SCFAs short-chain fatty acids, TMAO trimethylamine-N-oxide, BCAAs branched-chain amino acids, IBD inflammatory bowel diseases, T1D type-1 diabetes, T2D type-2 diabetes, RA rheumatoid arthritis, SLE systemic lupus erythematosus
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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