Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases

Question: Discuss about the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases. Answer: Introduction: Arrays of micro-organisms are present in the intestinal tract of the digestive system in humans. The gut micro biota comprises of around 400 different kinds of bacteria that inhabits the gut expressing varied kind of genes. These microbes play an important role in the human immune system. It has a symbiotic association with the human gut. They influence the enzymatic property and host physiology. These micro-organisms are connected to the autoimmune diseases and allergies affecting our physiology. The gut micro flora plays an important role in the immune system development and function. It determines the anaphylactic reactions of the food allergy. Several allergic reactions could be corrected if the composition of gut flora is altered. The micro flora in gut influences the manifestations and risk of allergy and its understanding is helpful in the prevention of food allergy. Recent studies showed that manipulations in the intestinal microbes lead to the treatment of allergies in human s. Location of microbes in the digestive system The stomach, small intestine and large intestine encompassing the gastrointestinal tract consist of colonized micro-organisms. There are a number of anaerobes outnumbering the facultative anaerobes present in the gut. The micro flora is less in number in the stomach and upper part of the intestine but present in large intestine comprising of the whole bacterial ecosystem (Lozupone et al. 2012). Bacteria are present in the lumen and the attached mucosa but does not penetrate bowel wall. The lower bowel is luxuriant with micro-organisms. The intestinal micro flora makes the most in the colon and feces. The bacterial micro flora is present mostly in the feces making it ideal for testing micro-organisms in the gut. Main types of microbes present in the gut The gut consists of various types of micro-organisms comprising mainly of bacteria that are anaerobes. The viruses, archaea and fungi are present in the gut but less in number. The dominant microbes are the bacteria that consist of the phyla Bacteriodetes, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria (Alonso Guarner, 2013). The bacteroides being the predominant presenting 30% consisting of anaerobic gram negative bacteria. The genera of bacteria like Clostridium, Eubacterium, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium and Ruminococcus are also present in the gut. The Lactobacillus and Escherichia are present less in number. The genera of Fungus are also present in the gut comprising of Saccharomyces, Candida, Aspergillus, Trametes, Bullera and Pleospora are also present (Ubeda Pamer, 2012). The Archaea are present involved in the metabolism of fermentation. Acquisition of the microbes in the gut The microbes in the gut are acquired during the time of birth. The fetus acquires these micro floras from the mother and is transferred to the infants during the birth. The number of microbes and the types of species transferred to the infant depends on the mode of delivery (Cho Blaser, 2012). The surrounding environment and transfer of bacteria from mother during and after birth generally determines the acquisition of microbes in the human gut. The type of birth determines the type of micro flora communities that the infant will acquire. The vaginal birth will give rise to the vaginal micro flora entities (Qin et al., 2010). The caesarean birth will provide the infant with a predominant skin micro flora consisting of microbial species like Propionibacterium and Staphylococcus. The hosts genetics, lifestyle, behavior and nutritional patterns establish the type and shaping of the micro flora in the gut. Role of the micro flora in the gut The gut flora comprising of the gastrointestinal micro flora present in the digestive tract of the humans have a metabolic, protective and trophic functions. The bacteria act as resistance in colonizing the exogenous bacteria and preventing the invasion of the intestinal mucosa by a foreign pathogen. The protective function is also executed by the nonpathogenic adherent bacteria preventing the entry and attachment of suspected pathogens into the epithelium (Belkaid Hand, 2014). The unwanted nutrient production is dampened by the commensal bacteria as it competes for the nutrients by consuming all the resources in the collective microenvironment. The metabolic role is also performed by the microbes in the gut by fermentation of the carbohydrates that are non digestible being the key source of energy in colon. The short chain fatty acids play an important role in the cell proliferation of the epithelium and in the differentiation in colon (Clemente, Ursell, Parfrey Knight, 2012). The trophic factor exists in the communication of the host with the resident micro flora at the surface of mucosa establishing the development of immune system that would be competent (Kamada et al., 2013). There is also an interaction of the microbes in the gut with the diet and immune system in humans. The microbes in the gut also play an important role in the immune system in human. Allergy in humans and its link to micro flora in gut Allergy is the response of the body towards any foreign substance called allergen. It triggers the body causing allergic reactions. It is an abnormal response by the body in response to pollen, foods, medicines or metals. The insect stings also acts as allergens. The allergies are developed due to environmental and genetic factors (Prince et al., 2015). The inflammatory chemical like histamine is triggered when there is binding of the immunoglobin E antibodies to the allergen and then to mast cell or basophil receptor (Ridaura Belkaid, 2015). The most common allergy symptoms are sneezing, rashes, runny nose and anaphylaxis in life threatening conditions. The immune system is an intricate regulatory network of pathways that alter the microbes in the gut sensitive to internal and external factors. A failure in these pathways could lead to diseases like the allergies, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune and metabolic syndromes. The diet, microbes and the immunity are interdependent and i nter linked (Tuohy et al., 2005). The allergies and autoimmune diseases are prevalent and disproportion of the micro flora composition in the gut influences the autoimmune and allergic reactions (West, Jenmalm Prescott, 2015). When the micro flora of a healthy person was compared to an individual with allergies showed a clear connection between the microbes in the gut to allergic reactions. The alteration in the composition of the microbes is due to reduced exposure to pathogens resulting in weak mechanism during the early life leading to allergies. Manipulation of micro flora to treat allergies The manipulation of the micro flora is done to treat allergies in human. The alteration in the number of the micro flora in the gut and use of probiotics would help to treat allergies (Ianiro et al., 2014). They are proved to provide health benefits to the humans in the form of micro-organisms. It increases the activity of the gut micro flora as it acts as substrate by stimulating growth. The combination of prebiotics and probiotics to the food or dietary supplements makes the stimulation of micro flora in gut helpful in reduction of allergies. How to manipulate micro flora to treat allergies One of the potential ways to treat allergies is the manipulation of the micro flora in the gut. The probiotics and their use have proved to reduce the symptoms of allergies and are safe. The intake of probiotics through diet has an efficacious effect on the micro flora and immune system to achieve manipulation and exhibiting growth of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. There is a lack of exposure to the symbiotic micro-organisms, infectious agents and parasites makes an individual susceptible to allergic diseases as there is insufficient stimulation of Th1 cells is called the hygiene hypothesis (Nakagawa Yoshimura, 2015). The cross talk between the gut micro biota and the host acts as a therapeutic intervention in treating allergies. The probiotics bacteria increases the permeability of the intestine and enhances the Immunoglobin A responses that are gut specific promoting a defense barrier in people prone to allergies. Probiotics also process the formation of dieta ry antigens reducing the allergy. The probiotics bypass the digestion in stomach and reaches to colon. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are used to prevent or treat the allergic reactions in humans (Kosiewicz et al., 2011). They act as immune modulators by stimulating growth and acting beneficial to the host. The right kinds of probiotics are important in treating allergies in humans. Practical problems in achieving manipulation of micro flora There is an uncertainty in the degree of desired manipulation in the gut micro flora. The uncertainty also occurs in achieving the optimal patterns of colonization and the composition of micro flora. The practical problem also lies in the ability of the microbes to treat the allergy. The location of the gut micro biota and the resilience of the genetic predisposition in host are also some of the practical problems in the manipulation process (Faith et al., 2014). Another problem lies in the achievement of optimal nutrition and the environmental conditions in the manipulation of the gut micro flora. The dietary and lifestyle changes are an effective implication in achieving the manipulation of gut micro flora to treat allergies. Prospects for successful application of micro flora manipulation The micro flora is present in the human gut have immense roles in the gastrointestinal tract of humans. They have their own micro-environment and they lives in symbiotic association with the human gut environment. For the successful application of gut micro flora manipulation through use of probiotics are helpful in providing the efficient immunoglobulin that treat allergies. It provides dietary agents that help in the treatment of allergies. In people prone to allergies have a weak immune system and less efficient micro biota. 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