Med Hypotheses. 2010 Apr;74(4):634-8. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2009.10.025. Epub 2009 Nov 8.
The microbial organ in the gut as a driver of homeostasis and disease.
Abstract
Based
on the ability of bacteria to both recognize and synthesize
neuroendocrine hormones, it is hypothesized that microbes within the
intestinal tract comprise a community that interfaces with the mammalian
nervous system that innervates the gastrointestinal tract to form a
microbial organ. Given the evolutionary context in which the central
nervous system is an outgrowth of the more primitive enteric nervous
system and the time in which microbes have colonized the mammalian
intestinal tract, it is further hypothesized that this microbial organ
enters into a symbiotic relationship with its mammalian host to
influence both homeostasis (aspects such as behavior) and susceptibility
to disease. Contained within the overall hypothesis are three main
thematic elements: the species composition of the microbial organ
influences host homeostasis and disease susceptibility; the host's
nervous system influences the species composition of the microbial organ
and the microbial organ itself possesses its own nervous system.
Elucidation of the mechanisms by which this evolutionary symbiosis
occurs would dramatically alter current medical thought by providing a
biological basis for linking these two disparate organ systems and
provide a new paradigm with which to understand and design new
therapeutic approaches for a range of clinical diseases.
(c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
on the ability of bacteria to both recognize and synthesize
neuroendocrine hormones, it is hypothesized that microbes within the
intestinal tract comprise a community that interfaces with the mammalian
nervous system that innervates the gastrointestinal tract to form a
microbial organ. Given the evolutionary context in which the central
nervous system is an outgrowth of the more primitive enteric nervous
system and the time in which microbes have colonized the mammalian
intestinal tract, it is further hypothesized that this microbial organ
enters into a symbiotic relationship with its mammalian host to
influence both homeostasis (aspects such as behavior) and susceptibility
to disease. Contained within the overall hypothesis are three main
thematic elements: the species composition of the microbial organ
influences host homeostasis and disease susceptibility; the host's
nervous system influences the species composition of the microbial organ
and the microbial organ itself possesses its own nervous system.
Elucidation of the mechanisms by which this evolutionary symbiosis
occurs would dramatically alter current medical thought by providing a
biological basis for linking these two disparate organ systems and
provide a new paradigm with which to understand and design new
therapeutic approaches for a range of clinical diseases.
(c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- PMID:
- 19900764
- [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
