Figure 1.

Interaction between intestinal microbiota and host immune response in normal and IBD states. Gut microbes play an essential role in maintaining the intestinal mucosal immune homeostasis, including the maintenance of intact intestinal mucosal barrier and moderate immune response to antigens. Disturbances in the abundance and diversity of intestinal microorganisms drive impaired function of the host intestinal immune system, and thus become a potential cause of a series of intestinal and systemic diseases including IBDs.

IBD, inflammatory bowel disease.