The interaction between gut microbiota and age-related changes in immune function and inflammation

Thea Magrone,Emilio Jirillo

doi:10.1186/1742-4933-10-31

Thea Magrone, Emilio Jirillo

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-4933-10-31

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Abstract

Intestinal microbiota and gut immune systems interact each other, maintaining a condition of homeostasis in the context of the intestinal habitat. However, both systems undergo modifications in elderly, thus accounting for a low grade inflammatory status which, in turn, may evolve toward more severe pathological conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and colon rectal cancer. In addition, in western societies dietary habits may negatively influence the microbiota composition, also altering gut immune response which is per se impaired in elderly. In order to prevent the outcome of aged-related disease, supplementation of nutraceuticals able to correct abnormalities of both immune system and microbiota has become more frequent than in the past. In this respect, a better identification of components of the aged microbiota as well as a deeper analysis of gut mucosal immunity function should be pursued.

Highlights

The intestinal microbiota is mostly confined in the colon where resides 1.5 Kg of microbes that is equal to about 1014 microorganims [1]
In conclusion, more studies are needed for a better comprehension of the interplay between human microbiota and gut immune cells in elderly
Inter individual variations of microbiota composition mostly depending on the type of diet, life style as well use of different molecular techniques of bacterial identification seem to represent the major difficulties in this area of research

Summary

Introduction

The intestinal microbiota is mostly confined in the colon where resides 1.5 Kg of microbes that is equal to about 1014 microorganims [1]. A condition of chronic inflammation dependent on the change of microbiota leading to TLR-mediated NF-κB activation and colonization of the bowel by toxigenic bacterial strains, such as Helicobacter pylori, Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli seems to contribute to the pathogenesis of CRC [33] In this framework, in a recent study a comparison of aged microbiota was made between community-dwelling individuals and long-stay individuals. All these evidences correlated to a change in microbiota since in community individuals a higher numbers of Firmicutes and lower numbers of Bacteroidetes than those observed in long-stay patients were detected [34] The relationship between oligoelements and vitamin B12 and intestinal microbiota deserves further investigation in elderly

Conclusion

38. Hume ME

54. Sartor RB: Gut microbiota

57. Rehman T