Linking Microbiota to Human Diseases: A Systems Biology Perspective

TY - JOUR

T1 - Linking Microbiota to Human Diseases

T2 - A Systems Biology Perspective

AU - Wu, Hao

AU - Tremaroli, Valentina

AU - Bäckhed, F

N1 - Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2015/12/1

Y1 - 2015/12/1

N2 - The human gut microbiota encompasses a densely populated ecosystem that provides essential functions for host development, immune maturation, and metabolism. Alterations to the gut microbiota have been observed in numerous diseases, including human metabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and irritable bowel syndrome, and some animal experiments have suggested causality. However, few studies have validated causality in humans and the underlying mechanisms remain largely to be elucidated. We discuss how systems biology approaches combined with new experimental technologies may disentangle some of the mechanistic details in the complex interactions of diet, microbiota, and host metabolism and may provide testable hypotheses for advancing our current understanding of human-microbiota interaction. The gut microbiota is altered in human metabolic diseases. Emerging data show that bacterial functions linked to colonic butyrate production are consistently associated with improved insulin sensitivity, indicating new possible therapeutic avenues. Human metabolic diseases are often associated with decreased diversity and functional richness of the gut microbiota. Modern lifestyles characterized by the widespread use of antimicrobials and consumption of energy-dense foods, additives, and emulsifiers might contribute to loss of microbiota diversity and the increased incidence of chronic diseases. Integration of patient stratification with microbiome functional profiling will be fundamental for the development of personalized medicine. Personal microbiome profiles will be important determinants of the effects of diet and the efficacy of therapeutic drugs.

AB - The human gut microbiota encompasses a densely populated ecosystem that provides essential functions for host development, immune maturation, and metabolism. Alterations to the gut microbiota have been observed in numerous diseases, including human metabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and irritable bowel syndrome, and some animal experiments have suggested causality. However, few studies have validated causality in humans and the underlying mechanisms remain largely to be elucidated. We discuss how systems biology approaches combined with new experimental technologies may disentangle some of the mechanistic details in the complex interactions of diet, microbiota, and host metabolism and may provide testable hypotheses for advancing our current understanding of human-microbiota interaction. The gut microbiota is altered in human metabolic diseases. Emerging data show that bacterial functions linked to colonic butyrate production are consistently associated with improved insulin sensitivity, indicating new possible therapeutic avenues. Human metabolic diseases are often associated with decreased diversity and functional richness of the gut microbiota. Modern lifestyles characterized by the widespread use of antimicrobials and consumption of energy-dense foods, additives, and emulsifiers might contribute to loss of microbiota diversity and the increased incidence of chronic diseases. Integration of patient stratification with microbiome functional profiling will be fundamental for the development of personalized medicine. Personal microbiome profiles will be important determinants of the effects of diet and the efficacy of therapeutic drugs.

U2 - 10.1016/j.tem.2015.09.011

DO - 10.1016/j.tem.2015.09.011

M3 - Review

C2 - 26555600

SN - 1043-2760

VL - 26

SP - 758

EP - 770

JO - Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism

JF - Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism

IS - 12

ER -