Gut Microbial Metabolites Regulate Host Immunity and Physiology

Abstract

ABSTRACT The human gut microbiome represents a highly diverse community of trillions of microorganisms that populate the human gastrointestinal tract. Dysbiosis of this community correlates with many different diseases, including colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and opportunistic infections by pathogenic bacteria. Production of bacterial metabolites by the gut microbiota can help mitigate these diseases. Herein, we investigate how SCFAs regulate the human aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway through cell culture stimulation assays to quantify expression and protein levels of AHR target genes, while also looking at nuclear translocation of the receptor.