Deterioration of Immune Responses in the Aged Gut in Mice is Reversed via Transplantation of Youthful Gut Microbes

Changes in the gut microbiome over the course of aging occur in parallel to a decline in immune function. The direction of causation is unclear, as both systems influence one another. Indeed, causation can exist in both directions simultaneously, as there are a great many distinct mechanisms involved in the interactions between gut microbes and the host immune system. The balance of evidence at the moment favors gut microbes as the cause and immune issues as the consequence. The results here add to those of other studies that suggest it is shifts in the gut microbe populations that drive significant dysfunction in the immune system, and that these shifts can be reversed (at least temporarily) via comparatively simple, brute-force strategies. One of the organs that is significantly affected by age is the gastrointestinal tract and the gut-associated microbiome. These commensal microorganisms are essential for health, affecting the functions of multiple bodily systems, such as host metabolism, brain functions, and the immune response. Older individuals have age-related alterations in gut microbial composition, which have been associated with increased frailty, reduced cognitive performance, immune inflammaging and an increased susceptibility to intestinal disorders. What drives these age-associated changes in the gut microbiota remains unknown. The microbiome is shaped by many factors including host genetics, early life events, diet, and the gut immune system. W...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs