The gut microbiome constitutes the largest reservoir of the human microbiome and probably the one most capable of influencing the health of the whole body through multiple system-level interactions. Composed mainly of bacteria but also fungi and viruses, this microbial ecosystem is highly diverse and complex, functionally redundant, individual specific, plastic, and resilient. An alteration of its structure, i.e., dysbiosis, has been shown to participate in the onset and progression of various metabolic and inflammatory diseases. This is mainly due to the increase of opportunistic pathogens or pathobionts and/or the depletion of health-associated taxa, such as short-chain fatty acid producers, with impaired intestinal permeability (i.e., leaky gut) and altered immune signaling [1]. It is therefore not surprising that the gut microbiome can also be a crucial factor in the management of osteoarthritis (OA). Exposure to stress and pain may lead to alterations in the interactions between the brain and the intestine (i.e., the gut–brain axis) by changing gastrointestinal secretion, gut motility and permeability, and microbial gene expression and quorum-sensing signals, thus contributing to dysbiosis and increasing the rate of translocation of bacterial products or even bacteria, thereby eliciting systemic inflammation [2] (Figure 1). It has been hypothesized that patients with OA-related pain will exhibit an imbalance of the gut microbiota associated with pain intensity [3].
Turroni, S., Pedersini, P., Villafañe, J.H. (2021). The Human Gut Microbiome and Its Relationship with Osteoarthritis Pain. PAIN MEDICINE, 22(7), 1467-1469 [10.1093/pm/pnaa422].
The Human Gut Microbiome and Its Relationship with Osteoarthritis Pain
Turroni, Silvia;
2021
Abstract
The gut microbiome constitutes the largest reservoir of the human microbiome and probably the one most capable of influencing the health of the whole body through multiple system-level interactions. Composed mainly of bacteria but also fungi and viruses, this microbial ecosystem is highly diverse and complex, functionally redundant, individual specific, plastic, and resilient. An alteration of its structure, i.e., dysbiosis, has been shown to participate in the onset and progression of various metabolic and inflammatory diseases. This is mainly due to the increase of opportunistic pathogens or pathobionts and/or the depletion of health-associated taxa, such as short-chain fatty acid producers, with impaired intestinal permeability (i.e., leaky gut) and altered immune signaling [1]. It is therefore not surprising that the gut microbiome can also be a crucial factor in the management of osteoarthritis (OA). Exposure to stress and pain may lead to alterations in the interactions between the brain and the intestine (i.e., the gut–brain axis) by changing gastrointestinal secretion, gut motility and permeability, and microbial gene expression and quorum-sensing signals, thus contributing to dysbiosis and increasing the rate of translocation of bacterial products or even bacteria, thereby eliciting systemic inflammation [2] (Figure 1). It has been hypothesized that patients with OA-related pain will exhibit an imbalance of the gut microbiota associated with pain intensity [3].I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.