Respiratory infections and diseases pose significant challenges to society and healthcare systems, underscoring the need for preventative and therapeutic strategies. Recent research in rodent models indicates that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), metabolites produced by gut bacteria, may offer medicinal benefits for respiratory conditions. In this opinion, we summarize the current literature that highlights the potential of SCFAs to enhance immune balance in humans. SCFAs have demonstrated the potential to decrease the risk of primary and secondary respiratory infections, modulate allergic airway exacerbations, and improve overall epithelial pathogen defenses. Therefore, we suggest that systemic SCFA levels could be targeted to support gut and respiratory health in specific groups, such as patients in hospital, women and their offspring, children, older adults, and athletes/military personnel.

Mishra et al. show that microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) inhibit Candida albicans gastrointestinal colonization through two mechanisms: direct fungal inhibition—via intracellular aci...

The gut microbiota in our body produces various substances called metabolites. One of those metabolites is short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These are the compounds our digestive system produces when dietary fiber that we can’t digest ferments in the gut. Acetate, butyrate and propionate are some of the major SCFAs. SCFAs are important biofuels that provide … Continue reading Spotlight On: Short-chain Fatty Acids

Gut microbial metabolites, particularly short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acid (BAs) derivatives, and tryptophan-derived metabolites (TDMs), act as signaling molecules, receptor ligands, and epigenetic modulators in regulating host metabolic and immune homeostasis. They exert local effects in the gut and reach distant tissues via hepatic, lymphatic, neural, and immune–hormonal routes, thereby regulating immunity, metabolism, and neural function. Disruptions in these pathways are associated with inflammatory diseases, neurodegeneration, and cancer. This review discusses the importance of SCFAs, BAs, and TDMs in different host metabolic and immunological contexts, dissects their molecular mechanisms of action on target cells, evaluates the therapeutic implications of targeting these microbial pathways, and outlines a roadmap for possible future clinical translations.

Eubacterium limosum is a dominant member of the human gut microbiome and produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These promote immune system func...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS whose risk and course are shaped by both genetic and environmental factors, among which the intestinal microbiota has...

SUMMARYThe human gut microbiotas constitute a complex microecosystem essential for host homeostasis. Among its metabolites, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) act as key signaling molecules linking micro...

The human intestinal microbiota ferments dietary fibre to short-chain fatty acids, which make an important contribution to host health. In this Review, Mukhopadhya and Louis discuss the luminal microb...

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are products of microbial fermentation of dietary fiber in the colon and may mediate microbiota-gut-brain communication. However, their role in modulating psychobiologi...

The gut microbiota in our body produces various substances called metabolites. One of those metabolites is short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These are the compounds our digestive system produces when dietary fiber that we can’t digest ferments in the gut. Acetate, butyrate and propionate are some of the major SCFAs. SCFAs are important biofuels that provide … Continue reading Spotlight On: Short-chain Fatty Acids