Gut microbiome-mediated mechanisms in aging-related diseases: are probiotics ready for prime time?

Front Pharmacol. 2023 Jun 1:14:1178596. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1178596. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Chronic low-grade inflammation affects health and is associated with aging and age-related diseases. Dysregulation of the gut flora is an important trigger for chronic low-grade inflammation. Changes in the composition of the gut flora and exposure to related metabolites have an effect on the inflammatory system of the host. This results in the development of crosstalk between the gut barrier and immune system, contributing to chronic low-grade inflammation and impairment of health. Probiotics can increase the diversity of gut microbiota, protect the gut barrier, and regulate gut immunity, thereby reducing inflammation. Therefore, the use of probiotics is a promising strategy for the beneficial immunomodulation and protection of the gut barrier through gut microbiota. These processes might positively influence inflammatory diseases, which are common in the elderly.

Keywords: dysbiosis; elderly; gut microbiota; inflammation; intestinal barrier; probiotics.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Scientific and Technological Innovation Project of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (Grant Nos. CI 2021A01617 and CI 2021A01612), Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Evidence-based Capacity-building Projects (Grant No. 60104), Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST (Grant No. 2019QNRC001), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant No. 82074412), but this study did not receive any public funding from commercial.