Respiratory diseases and the gut microbiota: an updated review

The gut microbiota constitutes a vital ecosystem within the human body playing a pivotal role in immune regulation and metabolic homeostasis. Emerging research underscores a sophisticated interplay between the gut and lungs, termed the “gut-lung axis.” Gut microbes exert influence over pulmonary imm...

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Main Authors: Xin Yu, Xiao Yu, Yubo Wang, Xiaoping Guo, Chao Wang, Fang Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1629005/full
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author Xin Yu
Xiao Yu
Yubo Wang
Xiaoping Guo
Chao Wang
Fang Wang
Fang Wang
Fang Wang
Fang Wang
author_facet Xin Yu
Xiao Yu
Yubo Wang
Xiaoping Guo
Chao Wang
Fang Wang
Fang Wang
Fang Wang
Fang Wang
author_sort Xin Yu
collection DOAJ
description The gut microbiota constitutes a vital ecosystem within the human body playing a pivotal role in immune regulation and metabolic homeostasis. Emerging research underscores a sophisticated interplay between the gut and lungs, termed the “gut-lung axis.” Gut microbes exert influence over pulmonary immunity and metabolism via immune mediators (e.g., cytokines and interleukins), metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids) and direct microbial translocation. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been implicated in a spectrum of respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute lung injury (ALI), Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), lung cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) and tuberculosis (TB). Although multi-omics technologies have elucidated certain mechanisms underlying the gut-lung axis, numerous pathways remain to be fully delineated. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the role of gut microbiota and their metabolites in respiratory diseases and assesses their therapeutic potential. Future investigations should prioritize strategies to restore and maintain microbial homeostasis, such as dietary modifications, probiotic supplementation and fecal microbiota transplantation to pioneer novel preventive and therapeutic approaches. These summaries of advances in gut microbiology research promise better management and exploration of therapeutic strategies for respiratory diseases.
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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spelling doaj-art-b0265e7eb7b54e46bb266e36eafc82012025-08-20T03:39:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-08-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.16290051629005Respiratory diseases and the gut microbiota: an updated reviewXin Yu0Xiao Yu1Yubo Wang2Xiaoping Guo3Chao Wang4Fang Wang5Fang Wang6Fang Wang7Fang Wang8Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaDepartment of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaDepartment of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaDepartment of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaDepartment of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaThe Medical Basic Research Innovation Center of Airway Disease in North China, Ministry of Education, Changchun, ChinaJilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Infectious Diseases, Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaJilin Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Precision Prevention and Control for Common Diseases, Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaThe gut microbiota constitutes a vital ecosystem within the human body playing a pivotal role in immune regulation and metabolic homeostasis. Emerging research underscores a sophisticated interplay between the gut and lungs, termed the “gut-lung axis.” Gut microbes exert influence over pulmonary immunity and metabolism via immune mediators (e.g., cytokines and interleukins), metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids) and direct microbial translocation. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been implicated in a spectrum of respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute lung injury (ALI), Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), lung cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) and tuberculosis (TB). Although multi-omics technologies have elucidated certain mechanisms underlying the gut-lung axis, numerous pathways remain to be fully delineated. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the role of gut microbiota and their metabolites in respiratory diseases and assesses their therapeutic potential. Future investigations should prioritize strategies to restore and maintain microbial homeostasis, such as dietary modifications, probiotic supplementation and fecal microbiota transplantation to pioneer novel preventive and therapeutic approaches. These summaries of advances in gut microbiology research promise better management and exploration of therapeutic strategies for respiratory diseases.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1629005/fullgut microbiotarespiratory diseasesgut-lung axisshort-chain fatty acidsfecal microbiota transplantationprobiotics
spellingShingle Xin Yu
Xiao Yu
Yubo Wang
Xiaoping Guo
Chao Wang
Fang Wang
Fang Wang
Fang Wang
Fang Wang
Respiratory diseases and the gut microbiota: an updated review
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
gut microbiota
respiratory diseases
gut-lung axis
short-chain fatty acids
fecal microbiota transplantation
probiotics
title Respiratory diseases and the gut microbiota: an updated review
title_full Respiratory diseases and the gut microbiota: an updated review
title_fullStr Respiratory diseases and the gut microbiota: an updated review
title_full_unstemmed Respiratory diseases and the gut microbiota: an updated review
title_short Respiratory diseases and the gut microbiota: an updated review
title_sort respiratory diseases and the gut microbiota an updated review
topic gut microbiota
respiratory diseases
gut-lung axis
short-chain fatty acids
fecal microbiota transplantation
probiotics
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1629005/full
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