A Review of The Role of The Microbiome on Immune Responses and Its Association With Cystic Fibrosis

Document Type : Review article

Authors

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

In recent years, the microbiome has been recognized as a key regulator of immune responses. Evidence suggests that changes in the microbiome can lead to chronic disease and even exacerbation of the disease. Impairment of innate immunity resulting from microbial incompatibility may worsen host susceptibility to infection and exacerbate chronic lung diseases. Specific microbes play a key role in improving immune responses and microbial incompatibility is involved in chronic lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and Cystic Fibrosis (CF). CF is an extremely complex disease that results from a gene mutation. Lack of expression of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) has late complications. Incompatibility in lung microbiota is associated with chronic lung diseases, but it is not determined whether this incompatibility can cause health problems or ineffective regulation of immune response create the disease and its progression. In the CF, due to the deficiency of the immune system, many opportunistic microorganisms, including Pseudomonas. aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus are colonized in the patient’s lung and due to an immunodeficiency causedby a defect in the system CFTR, lungs are unable to clear the bacteria that leads to severe pulmonary complications and respiratory and digestive problems in such patients. Therefore, in these patients, the microbiome contributes to dysfunctional immune responses and disease exacerbations. This review summarizes the impact of the microbiome on host immune responses and its relationship with CF to explore the role of the microbiome in causing CF.

Keywords