Mammalian bodies harbor a complex ecosystem of microorganisms living inside the gut and fighting off threats. Maintaining the bacterial diversity and compositional balance is absolutely vital since the gut comprises 70% of the immune system.
With its trillions of microorganisms per gram, the microflora is crucial in supporting better immunity, ensuring overall health, and improving the animal’s energy levels. However, impacts of this bacterial community are more complex than previously though. Below, we’ll explore microflora and its dynamic relationship with gut health and immunity.
What is Intestinal Microflora?
The intestinal microflora is a crucial component of gut health and primarily resides in the gastrointestinal tract. This complex ecosystem comprises over a hundred unique bacterial species mainly in the lower bowel, with minor presence in the upper intestine and stomach.
Diverse bacteria in the microflora perform varying roles in protecting and balancing the immune system. Besides, exogenously introduced beneficial microflora can minimize the risk of gastrointestinal diseases, including colorectal cancer and irritable bowel syndrome.
How Does Microflora Affect Immunity?
The crossroads between immunity and microflora occur in the gut, where lining-associated tissues interact with the intestinal microbiota. Let’s dig deeper into how bacteria shape immune health.
Promotes Immune Regulation
Research reveals that microflora can influence the local intestinal immune system, affecting immune tolerance. The beneficial bacterial populations promote immunological homeostasis, limiting pathogens and improving immune regulation.
Moreover, microflora defense systems are critical in counteracting colonization by pathogens and in decreasing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. As a result, the bacteria ecosystem minimizes inflammation and increases the body’s ability to mitigate effects of harmful invaders.
Enhances the Immune Response
A healthy gut barrier is vital for preventing the entry of dangerous pathogens into the bloodstream. The complex microbial ecosystem promotes an effective immune response against gut- and lung-infecting viruses, such as influenza and rotavirus.
In addition, the microflora protects your body by stimulating specialized immune cells, triggering them to generate potent antiviral proteins. Conversely, animals with poor gut health may not exhibit a strong immune response to viral infections.
Furthermore, gut microflora contributes in the maintenance of general immunity and health, protecting against numerous infectious diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and cancer. There’s little doubt anymore, it’s crucial to ensure a healthy gut with introduction of diverse and synergistic species of bacteria.
Stimulates T Cells Production
Gut microbes can affect the function and maturation of immune cells, particularly T cells which impact immune tolerance and regulation. Additionally, microbiota influences B cells and antibody production, contributing to a steady, robust immune response.
Moreover, intestinal microflora promotes the immune response balance, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and ensuring that healthy bacteria colonize the lower digestive tract. Therefore gut microbiota helps increase the organism’s immune health and adequate response to numerous conditions.
Maintains Gut Barrier Integrity
A healthy microbial environment can minimize invasion of pathogens and viruses in the body, and maintains the integrity of the gut barrier. In addition, increased mucin production strengthens the tight inter-cellular junctions.
Thus, the microbial barrier functions to prevent the onset of autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal and lung infections, and other immune-related issues, leading to overall improved gut health and immune tolerance.
The Bottom Line
The symbiotic relationship between immunity and microflora within the gut has become better understood in recent years. The intricate balance within the diverse microbial community in the gastrointestinal tract significantly impacts the immune response and tolerance.
Moreover, the unique bacterial species in healthy intestinal microflora protect your body against various threats, including pathogens, viruses, and other infections. As a result, the intestinal microbiota fosters immune tolerance, limits the colonization of pathogens, and reduces inflammatory events.
Sources
https://www.uclahealth.org/news/want-to-boost-immunity-look-to-the-gut