Host-gut microbiota metabolic interactions

Nicholson, J. K., Holmes, E., Kinross, J., Burcelin, R., Gibson, G., Jia, W. and Petttersen, S. (2012) Host-gut microbiota metabolic interactions. Science, 336 (6086). pp. 1262-1267. ISSN 0036-8075 doi: 10.1126/science.1223813

Abstract/Summary

The composition and activity of the gut microbiota codevelop with the host from birth and is subject to a complex interplay that depends on the host genome, nutrition, and life-style. The gut microbiota is involved in the regulation of multiple host metabolic pathways, giving rise to interactive host-microbiota metabolic, signaling, and immune-inflammatory axes that physiologically connect the gut, liver, muscle, and brain. A deeper understanding of these axes is a prerequisite for optimizing therapeutic strategies to manipulate the gut microbiota to combat disease and improve health.