Digestion and inflammatory responses

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is in constant exposure to several foreign antigens either derived from the commensal microbiota or food antigens or often derived from invading microorganisms. The gut immune system should balance between the antigen exposure and immune defense mechanism. Otherwise, disruption or imbalance results in the development of different GI diseases. Acute inflammatory responses are a key feature of the normal protective mechanism of the body, but chronic inflammations are a major concern of medical science. Different proinflammatory cytokines or pathogens can act as irritant triggering GI inflammation are a complicated biological response. Commensal bacteria or symbiotic microbiome in intestinal tract protect gut health by improving immune system. Dysbiosis or imbalance in this leads to triggered immune response, hypersensitivity, and various inflammatory complications. This persistent inflammatory response leads to the chronic inflammatory conditions which can result in severe morbidity and mortality. The pathological conditions in the intestine are mainly associated with celiac diseases, inflammatory bowel disease including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis which markedly affect the digestion and absorption of foods. Chronic gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori infection has also risk to develop gastric carcinoma. In this regard, different research studies focus on the preventive strategies like lifestyle modification, balanced diet, and probiotics to improve gut health by potentiating immune system and controlling low grade inflammation leading to disease condition.