Dysbiosis of gut microbiota in children with egg allergy

Abstract

The gut microbiota resides in the human gastrointestinal tract while maintaining a certain homeostatic balance, and its metabolites affect human health. The imbalance of the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) is involved in the development of various diseases throughout life. There are many reports that the intestinal microbiota of allergic disease patients exhibit dysbiosis, but there is no consensus on the characteristics of dysbiosis and pathogenesis of allergic diseases. In this study, the authors reported that in children with egg allergy, butyrate-producing bacteria accounted for significantly fewer intestinal flora and fewer regulatory T cells (Treg) in the peripheral blood. Butyric acid is one of the short-chain fatty acids and is mainly used as an energy source for colonic epithelial cells, but it is also known to induce the differentiation of Tregs in the intestinal immune system. Therefore, dysbiosis, which is characterized by a decrease in butyrate-producing bacteria in children with egg allergy, may lead to a decrease in Tregs in the intestinal immune system and may be involved in the development of allergic diseases. These findings may lead to new preventive and therapeutic interventions for allergic diseases that target the intestinal flora in the future.