The gut-lung axis is a bidirectional communication pathway that refers to the relationship and interactions between the gut microbiome, the immune system, and the lungs. Recent studies have shown that a dysbiotic gut microbiome is associated to chronic inflammatory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and respiratory infections. The gut and lungs are connected through the immune system, nervous system, and metabolic pathways. There is growing evidence that suggest that this communication is essential for maintaining the health of both organs. Indeed, research has shown that alterations in the gut microbiome can lead to dysregulation of the immune system, which can contribute to the development of lung diseases. Similarly, lung diseases can also affect the gut microbiome, leading to dysbiosis and gut-related disorders.
Understanding the gut-lung axis can inform the development of new strategies for the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases. For example, interventions that target the gut microbiome, such as probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, and dietary interventions, may have potential in the prevention and treatment of lung diseases by modulating the immune response and reducing inflammation. Overall, the gut-lung axis represents a rapidly evolving area of research that has the potential to deepen our understanding of the links between gut and lung health.
The purpose of this collection is to gather research aimed at further understanding the relationships between both organs in different stages of life, physiological and pathophysiological conditions. This collection will help to ultimately provide strong scientific evidence to develop specific measures to prevent and treat respiratory diseases. We invite original research articles, brief reports, and reviews describing basic, clinical, and applied studies on novel and significant advances in all areas relevant to the gut–lung axis. Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Association/correlation between microbiota composition and lung disorders
- Methodology or development of models to study the communication between the two organs
- Impact of pathogens / pollutants / eubiosis disruptors on gut and lung health
- Description of the mechanisms of action enabling the communication between the two organs
Vinciane Saint-Criq, PhD, is a researcher at Micalis Institute, INRAE. Her group’s research projects focus on the crosstalk between human microbiota and the host, particularly in the gut and the lung. She develops projects around the lung microbiome in health and diseases and the gut-lung axis, particularly in critical stages of life such as after birth and in the ageing population.
Dr. Delphyne Descamps (INRAE-VIM Unit) is an immunologist with strong expertise in innate lung immunity and specialized in host-respiratory pathogens interactions and alveolar macrophages. Her goal is to unravel the physio-pathological mechanisms of the RSV infection in different young animal models. She develops immunomodulatory strategies based on the manipulation of the lung primo-colonizing microbiota of the respiratory tract.
Conflict of Interests:
Vinciane Saint-Criq is a member of the steering committees overseeing research projects supported by Sanofi and AB-Biotics and received consulting fees from Zambon.
Delphyne Descamps is involved in research projects on the gut-lung axis supported by Pileje.
