Dysbiosis in the Development of Type I Diabetes and Associated Complications: From Mechanisms to Targeted Gut Microbes Manipulation Therapies

Abstract

Globally, we are facing a worrying increase in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) incidence, with onset at younger age shedding light on the need to better understand the mechanisms of disease and step-up prevention. Given its implication in immune system development and regulation of metabolism, there is no surprise that the gut microbiota is a possible culprit behind T1DM pathogenesis. Additionally, microbiota manipulation by probiotics, prebiotics, dietary factors and microbiota transplantation can all modulate early host-microbiota interactions by enabling beneficial microbes with protective potential for individuals with T1DM or at high risk of developing T1DM. In this review, we discuss the challenges and perspectives of translating microbiome data into clinical practice. Nevertheless, this progress will only be possible if we focus our interest on developing numerous longitudinal, multicenter, interventional and double-blind randomized clinical trials to confirm their efficacy and safety of these therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: diet; dysbiosis; microbiome; microbiota; type 1 diabetes.

Figure 1

Gut microbiota and T1DM. T1DM patients harbor a microbiota with reduced diversity enriched in Bacteroides species (B. dorei, B. ovatus, B. logum). The gut environment in T1DM is characterized by increased gut permeability, disrupted mucus barrier, inflammation and low production of SCFAs (particularly butyrate).

Figure 2

Proposed personalized therapeutic approaches in T1DM.