What is it about?
The small molecules produced by gut microbiota through the fermentation of dietary components can influence systemic immunity by shaping T cell differentiation, regulating inflammation, and affecting epithelial barrier integrity. In autoimmune disorders, dysregulated microbial metabolites often promote chronic inflammation and loss of immune tolerance, whereas in solid tumors, similar metabolites may either support tumor-promoting inflammation or enhance anti-tumor immunity, depending on their context and concentration. This dual and sometimes paradoxical role positions gut microbial metabolites as a biological intersection between immune dysregulation and oncogenesis. Understanding these shared pathways may uncover novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers, offering the potential to manipulate the gut microbiome to both attenuate autoimmune activity and enhance anti-cancer immune responses.
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Why is it important?
Understanding the role of gut microbial metabolites as a convergence point between autoimmunity and solid tumors is of profound scientific and clinical importance. These metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan derivatives, and bile acid metabolites, act as powerful modulators of the immune system.
Perspectives
Gut metabolites modulate immune responses, linking inflammation in autoimmunity and tumor progression. Targeting microbial metabolites offers new treatment strategies for both autoimmune diseases and cancers. Microbial metabolites hold potential as non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of disease.
Dr.Ramakrishnan Veerabathiran
Chettinad Health City
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Gut microbial metabolites as a convergence point between autoimmunity and solid tumors, Gut Microbes Reports, March 2025, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/29933935.2025.2470805.
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