Commensal microbiota-derived signals regulate host immune system through epigenetic modifications
Open accessAbstract
Commensal microbiota colonizing the digestive tract is a symbiotic partner of its host, as it plays a critical role in nutrient metabolism as well as the development and maturation of the host immune system. Although it is clear that regulation of the host-commensal relationship is crucial to mammalian health, the underlying mechanisms regulating gut homeostasis are yet to be elucidated. Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone methylation/acetylation, alter the structure of chromatin to regulate the transcriptional program of eukaryotic cells. At the whole genome level, these modifications possibly play a key role in regulating the mutually beneficial relationship between the host and the gut microbiota. In this review, we describe how the commensal microbiota and its metabolic by-products modify the epigenome of host cells, and in turn, change their development and functional behavior.
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Characterization of body site-specific microbial ecosystems has revealed a highly diverse and regional set of microbial community networks that can exert systemic effects on the host through the production of metabolites, shaping the immune response, and influencing host gene expression.
“Characterization of body site-specific microbial ecosystems has revealed a highly diverse and regional set of microbial community networks that can exert systemic effects on the host through the production of metabolites, shaping the immune response, and influencing host gene expression[1].”
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- Authors
- Takahashi, D., & Hase, K.
- Affiliations
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology (US)
- Keio University (JP)
- Venue
- Inflammation and Regeneration
- Published
- 2015
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 129-136
- ISSN
- 1346-8022 (ISSN-L)
- 1880-8190
- 1880-9693
- OpenAlex
- W1135527263
- Cited by
- 3
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 0.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Inflammation and Regeneration (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Japan Science and Technology Agency
- Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Keywords
- commensal microbiota, gut microbiota, epigenetic modifications, DNA methylation, histone methylation, histone acetylation, intestinal homeostasis, host-microbe symbiosis, chromatin regulation, microbial metabolites
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