Figure 1.

The interplay or cross talk between specific microbiota and pancreatic function, in both health and disease. The short chain fatty acids (SCFA), produced by intestinal bacteria, induce the expression of cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptides (CRAMP, red dots) in pancreatic β-cells. Impaired CRAMP secretion renders the gut microbiota dysbiotic and results in bacterial overgrowth. The pancreas is colonized under normal physiological conditions by microbes via the pancreatic duct, oral-intestinal route, mesenteric venous drainage, and mesenteric lymphatic drainage.