The Microbes Made Me Eat It

摘要

We share our bodies with a huge array of microorganisms. Many of these live in the intestine and number in the trillions (1). On page 228 in this issue, Vijay-Kumar et al. (2) show that the interaction between our immune system and these gut microbes plays an important role in the metabolic diseases that plague developed countries, with profound implications for the rise in obesity and what can be done about it. There are few proven hypotheses regarding the cause of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. One possibility is that gut microbes contribute to these conditions-referred to collectively as metabolic syndrome-by regulating immune function. Because of its large surface area and exposure to diverse microbes and the food we eat, the gastrointestinal tract is a unique interface between the external and internal environment. This positions the gastrointestinal tract to play a predominant role in immunity.