Cited by 443Gut microbiota and healthAdipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic DiseasesMicrobial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology

Butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids as modulators of immunity: What relevance for health?

Meijer, Kees, de Vos, Paul, Priebe, Marion G·2010·Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: High-fiber diets have been shown to reduce plasma concentrations of inflammation markers. Increased production of fermentation-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) is one of the factors that could exert these positive effects. This review examines the effects of SCFAs on immune cells and discusses the relevance of their effects on systemic inflammation, as frequently seen in obesity. RECENT FINDINGS: SCFAs have been shown to reduce chemotaxis and cell adhesion; this effect is dependent on type and concentration of SCFA. In spite of conflicting results, especially butyrate seems to have an anti-inflammatory effect, mediated by signaling pathways like nuclear factor-κB and inhibition of histone deacetylase. The discrepancies in the results could be explained by differences in cell types used and their proliferative and differentiation status. SUMMARY: SCFAs show anti-inflammatory effects and seem to have the potency to prevent infiltration of immune cells from the bloodstream in, for example, the adipose tissue. In addition, their ability to inhibit the proliferation and activation of T cells and to prevent adhesion of antigen-presenting cells could be important as it recently has been shown that obesity-associated inflammation might be antigen-dependent. More studies with concentrations in micromolar range are needed to approach more physiological concentrations.

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Crossref · 10.1097/mco.0b013e32833eebe5

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  • SCFA, particularly acetate and butyrate, can act as anti-inflammatory agents and inhibit production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and maintain intestinal barrier immune function.

    “Other studies have shown that SCFA, particularly acetate and butyrate, can act as anti-inflammatory agents and have been shown to be effective in inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and maintaining intestinal barrier immune function [255].”

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Authors
Meijer, K., de Vos, P., & Priebe, M. G.
Affiliations
University Medical Center Groningen (NL)
Corresponding author
Priebe, Marion G
Venue
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
Published
2010-11
Volume
13
Issue
6
Pages
715-721
ISSN
1363-1950 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2109832621
Cited by
443
References
79
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 43 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 14
FWCI
1.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Microbial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology
Keywords
short-chain fatty acids, butyrate, immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory activity, systemic inflammation, obesity, high-fiber diet, gut fermentation, chemotaxis, cell adhesion, NF-κB signaling, histone deacetylase inhibition, T cell proliferation, antigen-presenting cells, adipose tissue, inflammatory markers
MeSH terms
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Antigen-Presenting Cells, Butyrates, Cell Adhesion, Chemotaxis, Dietary Fiber, Fatty Acids, Volatile, Fermentation, Humans, Immune System, Immunologic Factors, Obesity, Signal Transduction, Inflammation Mediators

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