Abstract
The human gut harbors a diverse community of commensals which are essential for maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Recently, evidence suggesting a role of gut microbiome on the adaptive immune system and development of autoimmune diseases has been shown. Autoimmunity occurs with a significant sex-bias, affecting women more often than men. Beyond the role of sex hormones, despite significant research efforts, the mechanism underlying this sex-bias remains unknown. Autoimmune diseases are multifactorial, requiring both genetic and environmental factors for onset. The gut microbiome can impact the innate and adaptive immunity via interaction with sex hormones. In addition, host genotype and environmental factors also influence microbial composition. Among the environmental factors, diet has a significant impact on the composition of intestinal microbes. Interaction among sex hormones, diet, and genetic factors may determine the dysbiosis and its related metabolites. A systems biology approach by exploring microbiome-metabolomics and metagenomics to define the interactions in colonic ecosystem may help in determining sex-bias of autoimmunity.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Principles of Gender-Specific Medicine |
| Subtitle of host publication | Gender in the Genomic Era: Third Edition |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Pages | 569-583 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780128035061 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 15 2017 |
Keywords
- Autoimmunity
- Diet
- Metabolites
- Microbiome
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine