Microbiota-dependent metabolites – New engine for T cell warriors

Microbiota-dependent metabolites (MDMs) are small bioactive molecules produced or modified through microbial metabolic processes, playing an essential role in the communication between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. One of their most important roles is their regulatory effects on the immune syste...

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Main Authors: Yang Tang, Anbo Fu, Liangjing Wang, Qiwei Ge
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Gut Microbes
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2523815
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author Yang Tang
Anbo Fu
Liangjing Wang
Qiwei Ge
author_facet Yang Tang
Anbo Fu
Liangjing Wang
Qiwei Ge
author_sort Yang Tang
collection DOAJ
description Microbiota-dependent metabolites (MDMs) are small bioactive molecules produced or modified through microbial metabolic processes, playing an essential role in the communication between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. One of their most important roles is their regulatory effects on the immune system, particularly in shaping the development, differentiation, and function of T cells, which are key players in the adaptive immune response. Emerging research highlights those microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), tryptophan-derived metabolites, and bile acids (BAs), modulate T cell responses in both health and disease contexts, impacting conditions ranging from autoimmune disorders to cancer. This review summarizes current advances in deciphering MDMs that critically regulate T cell function and elucidating their biosynthetic origins and mechanisms underlying immunomodulation and pathogenesis. Furthermore, we highlight the application of emerging technologies—in vitro bioreactors and organ models, genetic manipulation, and chemical proteomics – in delineating dynamic crosstalk between MDMs and immune signaling networks. We discuss future research perspectives in this field, emphasizing the need for more in-depth mechanistic studies and research strategies from an ecological approach will facilitate the clinical translation of MDMs.
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spelling doaj-art-0abc7d7909844e82ba44a45b9545dddf2025-08-20T03:24:55ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGut Microbes1949-09761949-09842025-12-0117110.1080/19490976.2025.2523815Microbiota-dependent metabolites – New engine for T cell warriorsYang Tang0Anbo Fu1Liangjing Wang2Qiwei Ge3Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaMicrobiota-dependent metabolites (MDMs) are small bioactive molecules produced or modified through microbial metabolic processes, playing an essential role in the communication between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. One of their most important roles is their regulatory effects on the immune system, particularly in shaping the development, differentiation, and function of T cells, which are key players in the adaptive immune response. Emerging research highlights those microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), tryptophan-derived metabolites, and bile acids (BAs), modulate T cell responses in both health and disease contexts, impacting conditions ranging from autoimmune disorders to cancer. This review summarizes current advances in deciphering MDMs that critically regulate T cell function and elucidating their biosynthetic origins and mechanisms underlying immunomodulation and pathogenesis. Furthermore, we highlight the application of emerging technologies—in vitro bioreactors and organ models, genetic manipulation, and chemical proteomics – in delineating dynamic crosstalk between MDMs and immune signaling networks. We discuss future research perspectives in this field, emphasizing the need for more in-depth mechanistic studies and research strategies from an ecological approach will facilitate the clinical translation of MDMs.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2523815Gut microbiotamicrobiota-dependent metabolitesT cellsmolecular mechanismsclinical translation
spellingShingle Yang Tang
Anbo Fu
Liangjing Wang
Qiwei Ge
Microbiota-dependent metabolites – New engine for T cell warriors
Gut Microbes
Gut microbiota
microbiota-dependent metabolites
T cells
molecular mechanisms
clinical translation
title Microbiota-dependent metabolites – New engine for T cell warriors
title_full Microbiota-dependent metabolites – New engine for T cell warriors
title_fullStr Microbiota-dependent metabolites – New engine for T cell warriors
title_full_unstemmed Microbiota-dependent metabolites – New engine for T cell warriors
title_short Microbiota-dependent metabolites – New engine for T cell warriors
title_sort microbiota dependent metabolites new engine for t cell warriors
topic Gut microbiota
microbiota-dependent metabolites
T cells
molecular mechanisms
clinical translation
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2523815
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AT anbofu microbiotadependentmetabolitesnewenginefortcellwarriors
AT liangjingwang microbiotadependentmetabolitesnewenginefortcellwarriors
AT qiweige microbiotadependentmetabolitesnewenginefortcellwarriors