Sufficient water intake maintains the gut microbiota and immune homeostasis and promotes pathogen elimination

Water is the most abundant substance in the human body and plays a pivotal role in various bodily functions. While underhydration is associated with the incidence of certain diseases, the specific role of water in gut function remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that water restriction disrupts gut homeostasis, which is accompanied by a bloom of gut microbes and decreased numbers of immune cells, especially T_h17 cells, within the colon. These microbial and immunological changes in the gut are associated with an impaired ability to eliminate the enteric pathogen Citrobacter rodentium. Moreover, aquaporin 3, a water channel protein, is required for the maintenance of T_h17 cell function and differentiation. Taken together, adequate water intake is critical for maintaining bacterial and immunological homeostasis in the gut, thereby enhancing host defenses against enteric pathogens.