Impact of the gut microbiota on inflammation, obesity, and metabolic disease.
The human gut harbors more than 100 trillion microbial cells, which have an essential role in human metabolic regulation via their symbiotic interactions with the host. Altered gut microbial ecosystems have been associated with increased metabolic and immune disorders in animals and humans. Molecular interactions linking the gut microbiota with host energy metabolism, lipid accumulation, and immunity have also been identified. However, the exact mechanisms that link specific variations in the composition of the gut microbiota with the development of obesity and metabolic diseases in humans remain obscure owing to the complex etiology of these pathologies. In this review, we discuss current knowledge about the mechanistic interactions between the gut microbiota, host energy metabolism, and the host immune system in the context of obesity and metabolic disease, with a focus on the importance of the axis that links gut microbes and host metabolic inflammation. Finally, we discuss therapeutic approaches aimed at reshaping the gut microbial ecosystem to regulate obesity and related pathologies, as well as the challenges that remain in this area.
Metabometrix Ltd, Bio-incubator, Prince Consort Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2BP, UK.
Claire L
CL
Boulangé
Division of Computational and Systems Medicine, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2PH, UK.
Ana Luisa
AL
Neves
Division of Computational and Systems Medicine, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2PH, UK.
Julien
J
Chilloux
Metabometrix Ltd, Bio-incubator, Prince Consort Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2BP, UK. j.nicholson@imperial.ac.uk.|Division of Computational and Systems Medicine, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2PH, UK. j.nicholson@imperial.ac.uk.
Jeremy K
JK
Nicholson
Division of Computational and Systems Medicine, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2PH, UK. m.dumas@imperial.ac.uk.
Marc-Emmanuel
ME
Dumas
D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D006706:Homeostasis; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy