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Published on: May 2, 2018
Bile acids in immunity: Bidirectional mediators between the host and the microbiota
Urszula Godlewska1, Edyta Bulanda1, Tomasz P Wypych1
1Laboratory of Host-Microbiota Interactions, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Abstract:
Host-microbiota interactions are bidirectional. On one hand, ecological pressures exerted by the host shape the composition and function of the microbiota. On the other, resident microbes trigger multiple pathways that influence the immunity of the host. Bile acids participate in both parts of this interplay. As host-derived compounds, they display bacteriostatic properties and affect the survival and growth of the members of the microbial community. As microbiota-modified metabolites, they further influence the microbiota composition and, in parallel, modulate the immunity of the host. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms behind this unique dialogue and discuss how we can harness bile acids to treat intestinal inflammation.
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