New insights into therapeutic strategies for gut microbiota modulation in inflammatory diseases

The interaction between the gut microbiota and the host immune system is very important for balancing and resolving inflammation. The human microbiota begins to form during childbirth; the complex interaction between bacteria and host cells becomes critical for the formation of a healthy or a disease-promoting microbiota. C-section delivery, formula feeding, a high-sugar diet, a high-fat diet and excess hygiene negatively affect the health of the microbiota. Considering that the majority of the global population has experienced at least one of these factors that can lead to inflammatory disease, it is important to understand strategies to modulate the gut microbiota. In this review, we will discuss new insights into gut microbiota modulation as potential strategies to prevent and treat inflammatory diseases. Owing to the great advances in tools for microbial analysis, therapeutic strategies such as prebiotic, probiotic and postbiotic treatment and fecal microbiota transplantation have gained popularity.