Immunological mechanisms of fecal microbiota transplantation in recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection
- PMID: 36156924
- PMCID: PMC9476857
- DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i33.4762
Immunological mechanisms of fecal microbiota transplantation in recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection
Abstract
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a successful method for treating recurrent Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection (rCDI) with around 90% efficacy. Due to the relative simplicity of this approach, it is being widely used and currently, thousands of patients have been treated with FMT worldwide. Nonetheless, the mechanisms underlying its effects are just beginning to be understood. Data indicate that FMT effectiveness is due to a combination of microbiological direct mechanisms against C. difficile, but also through indirect mechanisms including the production of microbiota-derived metabolites as secondary bile acids and short chain fatty acids. Moreover, the modulation of the strong inflammatory response triggered by C. difficile after FMT seems to rely on a pivotal role of regulatory T cells, which would be responsible for the reduction of several cells and soluble inflammatory mediators, ensuing normalization of the intestinal mucosal immune system. In this minireview, we analyze recent advances in these immunological aspects associated with the efficacy of FMT.
Keywords: Clostridioides difficile; Dysbiosis; Fecal microbiota transplantation; Immunity; Mechanism; Pseudomembranous colitis.
©The Author(s) 2022. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Figures


References
-
- Ruan W, Engevik MA, Spinler JK, Versalovic J. Healthy Human Gastrointestinal Microbiome: Composition and Function After a Decade of Exploration. Dig Dis Sci. 2020;65:695–705. - PubMed
-
- Bohnhoff M, Drake BL, Miller CP. Effect of streptomycin on susceptibility of intestinal tract to experimental Salmonella infection. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1954;86:132–137. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources