Gut Microbial-Derived Metabolomics of Asthma.

Augusto A. Litonjua,Kathleen A. Lee-Sarwar,Rachel S. Kelly,Scott T. Weiss,Jessica Lasky-Su

doi:10.3390/metabo10030097

Abstract

In this review, we discuss gut microbial-derived metabolites involved with the origins and pathophysiology of asthma, a chronic respiratory disease that is influenced by the microbiome. Although both gut and airway microbiomes may be important in asthma development, we focus here on the gut microbiome and metabolomic pathways involved in immune system ontogeny. Metabolite classes with existing evidence that microbial-derived products influence asthma risk include short chain fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and bile acids. While tryptophan metabolites and sphingolipids have known associations with asthma, additional research is needed to clarify the extent to which the microbiome contributes to the effects of these metabolites on asthma. These metabolite classes can influence immune function in one of two ways: (i) promoting growth or maturity of certain immune cell populations or (ii) influencing antigenic load by enhancing the number or species of specific bacteria. A more comprehensive understanding of how gut microbes and metabolites interact to modify asthma risk and morbidity will pave the way for targeted diagnostics and treatments.

Highlights

Microbiome-Metabolome Associations in AsthmaAsthma and other allergic diseases have well known associations with early life environmental exposures that modify the gut microbiota, such as living on a farm, mode of delivery, breastfeeding status and having a dog in the home [1]
Integration of metabolomic data with gut microbiome data has been fruitful in understanding the gut-lung axis as it pertains to asthma
Future studies will production be valuableand in microbial of bile acids, suggesting bilebile acids mayand serve as biomarkers of the clarifyingmetabolism the most relevant mechanisms by that which acids their modification by Th2-high microbes asthma endotype

Summary

Introduction

Asthma and other allergic diseases have well known associations with early life environmental exposures that modify the gut microbiota, such as living on a farm, mode of delivery, breastfeeding status and having a dog in the home [1]. As mounting animal and human data point to a prominent role of the gut microbiome in asthma development [2], relevant metabolomic mechanisms behind this association are beginning to be elucidated [3]. We review a set of metabolites and metabolite groups that appear to link the gut microbiota with asthma development and pathophysiology and immune system ontology. Some of these classes, such as short chain fatty acids, are relatively well-studied and understood, while others, including the sphingolipids, include more numerous metabolites with less straightforward relationships to asthma and allergy.

Short Chain Fatty Acids

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Tryptophan

Findings

Conclusions