Microbiota and IBD: Current knowledge and future perspectives

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing-remitting disease with a remarkable increase in incidence worldwide and a substantial disease burden. Although the pathophysiology is not fully elucidated yet an aberrant immune reaction against the intestinal microbiota and the gut microbial dysbiosis have been identified to play a major role. The composition of gut microbiota in IBD patients is distinct from that of healthy individuals, with certain organisms predominating over others. Differences in the microbial dysbiosis have been also observed between Crohn Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). A disruption of the microbiota's balance can lead to inflammation and intestinal damage. Microbiota composition in IBD can be affected both by endogenous (i.e., interaction with the immune system and intestinal epithelial cells) and exogenous (i.e., medications, surgery, diet) factors. The complex interplay between the gut microbiota and IBD is an area of great interest for understanding disease pathogenesis and developing new treatments. The purpose of this review is to summarize the latest evidence on the role of microbiota in IBD pathogenesis and to explore possible future areas of research.