Intestinal oxygen and microbiota crosstalk: implications for pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases and emerging therapeutic strategies.

ABSTRACT: The gut microbiota and its hypoxic host environment play a critical role in human health. Despite its importance, the mechanisms maintaining homeostasis and the characteristics defining dysbiosis remain largely undefined. In particular, the regulation of intestinal oxygen (IO) levels emerges as a critical factor in maintaining microbial balance. Host-driven factors, including epithelial oxygen consumption, mucosal perfusion, and luminal gas diffusion, establish a hypoxic gradient essential for the stable colonization by obligate anaerobes. Disruptions to this gradient, leading to pathological hyperoxia, are associated with overgrowth of facultative anaerobic bacteria and contribute to gastrointestinal diseases like ulcerative colitis, colorectal cancer, and irritable bowel syndrome. Emergi

SUBMITTER: Shang T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12683929 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature