Age-related physiological changes in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as modification in lifestyle, nutritional behaviour, and functionality of the host immune system, inevitably affect the gut microbial ecosystem. By using the Human Intestinal Tract Chip (HITChip) we explored the age-related differences in the gut microbiota composition among young adults, elderly, and centenarians. We observed that the microbial composition and diversity of the gut ecosystem of young adults and seventy-years old people is unexpectedly similar but significantly differs from that of the centenarians. After 100 years of symbiotic association with the human host, the microbiota is characterized by a rearrangement in the Firmicutes population, among which butyrate producers and other bacteria with anti-inflammatory properties, such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, were particularly affected. The resulting dysbiosis may be among the causes – or the results – of the proliferation of opportunistic enterobacteria (pathobionts) which were found significantly increased in centenarians, and seemed to be positively correlated to an increase in some pro-inflammatory signals (IL-6 and IL-8). This suggests that the compromised microbiota found in the centenarians could contribute to and/or be promoted by the “inflamm-aging” process, i.e. the overall chronic inflammatory status which is typical of the old age. In conclusion, the remodelling of the gut microbiota during the late stage of life is among the components of the complex aging phenomenon and contribute to the pathophysiological process of aging, affecting immune system functionality, inflammatory status and susceptibility to infection.
Biagi E., Candela M., Franceschi C., de Vos W., Brigidi P. (2011). The aging gut microbiota: a new perspective.. S.N. : s.n.
The aging gut microbiota: a new perspective.
BIAGI, ELENA;CANDELA, MARCO;FRANCESCHI, CLAUDIO;BRIGIDI, PATRIZIA
2011
Abstract
Age-related physiological changes in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as modification in lifestyle, nutritional behaviour, and functionality of the host immune system, inevitably affect the gut microbial ecosystem. By using the Human Intestinal Tract Chip (HITChip) we explored the age-related differences in the gut microbiota composition among young adults, elderly, and centenarians. We observed that the microbial composition and diversity of the gut ecosystem of young adults and seventy-years old people is unexpectedly similar but significantly differs from that of the centenarians. After 100 years of symbiotic association with the human host, the microbiota is characterized by a rearrangement in the Firmicutes population, among which butyrate producers and other bacteria with anti-inflammatory properties, such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, were particularly affected. The resulting dysbiosis may be among the causes – or the results – of the proliferation of opportunistic enterobacteria (pathobionts) which were found significantly increased in centenarians, and seemed to be positively correlated to an increase in some pro-inflammatory signals (IL-6 and IL-8). This suggests that the compromised microbiota found in the centenarians could contribute to and/or be promoted by the “inflamm-aging” process, i.e. the overall chronic inflammatory status which is typical of the old age. In conclusion, the remodelling of the gut microbiota during the late stage of life is among the components of the complex aging phenomenon and contribute to the pathophysiological process of aging, affecting immune system functionality, inflammatory status and susceptibility to infection.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
