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IBD and the Gut Microbiota—from Bench to Personalized Medicine

Current Gastroenterology Reports volume 17, Article number: 15 (2015) Cite this article

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic relapsing inflammatory disorders involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which arise from the confluence of genetic, immunological, microbial, and environmental factors. Clinical, genetic, and experimental data support the role of gut microbiota in contributing to the etiopathogenesis of these diseases. In IBD, the development of gut dysbiosis and imbalances in host–microbe relationships contribute to the extent, severity, and chronicity of intestinal inflammation. With continued advances in knowledge, technology, bioinformatics tools, and capabilities to define disease subsets, we will be able to lower risk and improve clinical outcomes in IBD through individualized interventions that restore host–microbial balance. This article provides a critical review of the field, based on the latest clinical and experimental information.

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Acknowledgments

This review is dedicated to the memory of Joseph B. Kirsner, M.D., Ph.D., a pioneer in the study of inflammatory bowel diseases and a tireless advocate for his IBD patients, and to Lloyd Mayer, M.D., who will always be remembered for his seminal contributions to the field, collegiality, and steadfast friendship. Emanuelle Bellaguarda and Eugene B. Chang have received grants NIDDK (DK42086 (DDRCC), DK097268, and DK47722 unrelated to this article.

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Conflict of Interest

Emanuelle Bellaguarda and Eugene B. Chang have no conflicts of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with animal subjects performed by any of the authors. With regard to the authors’ research cited in this paper, all procedures were followed in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000 and 2008.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 6084, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Eugene B. Chang

  2. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern University, 676 North Saint Clair suite 1400, Chicago, 60611, IL, USA

    Emanuelle Bellaguarda

Authors
  1. Emanuelle Bellaguarda
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  2. Eugene B. Chang
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Correspondence to Eugene B. Chang.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Inflammatory Bowel Disease

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Bellaguarda, E., Chang, E.B. IBD and the Gut Microbiota—from Bench to Personalized Medicine. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 17, 15 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-015-0439-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-015-0439-z

Keywords

  • IBD
  • Gut microbiome
  • Dysbiosis
  • Probiotics
  • Prebiotics
  • Antibiotics
  • Host–microbe interactions
  • Mucosal immunology
  • Intestinal inflammation
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Precision medicine
  • Western diet
  • Fecal microbiota transplantation