review · Frontiers in Immunology
A cross-talk exists between gut microbiota and gonadal function, establishing a gut microbiota-gonadal axis that plays an important role in male and female reproduction. Gut microorganisms influence reproductive functions through several biological mechanisms. These include the modulation of circulating steroid sex hormone levels, regulation of insulin sensitivity, alterations to the immune system, and influence over gonadal microbiota. Additionally, gut microbes affect reactive oxygen species generation and the activation of cytokine accumulation. Currently, the vast majority of existing evidence supporting these interactions derives from animal model studies, with very limited data available from human subjects. Consequently, further human clinical investigations are necessary to validate these findings and substantiate the physiological roles identified in experimental animal research.
Understanding how the gut microbiome interacts with the reproductive system highlights biological pathways connecting metabolism, immunity, and fertility. Identifying how gut bacteria influence sex hormones and cellular stress provides a foundation for future health strategies, though clinical validation in human populations remains essential to confirm these mechanisms.
This research is at an early pre-clinical stage, as the documented mechanisms rely almost entirely on animal models. While the findings point towards future potential applications in reproductive health and fertility management, the abstract outlines no specific commercial technologies, products, or development pathways prior to validation in human clinical studies.
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The influence of gut microbiota on physiological processes is rapidly gaining attention globally. Despite being under-studied, there are available data demonstrating a gut microbiota-gonadal cross-talk, and the importance of this axis in reproduction. This study reviews the impacts of gut microbiota on reproduction. In addition, the possible mechanisms by which gut microbiota modulates male and female reproduction are presented. Databases, including Embase, Google scholar, Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science, were explored using relevant key words. Findings showed that gut microbiota promotes gonadal functions by modulating the circulating levels of steroid sex hormones, insulin sensitivity, immune system, and gonadal microbiota. Gut microbiota also alters ROS generation and the activation of cytokine accumulation. In conclusion, available data demonstrate the existence of a gut microbiota-gonadal axis, and role of this axis on gonadal functions. However, majority of the data were compelling evidences from animal studies with a great dearth of human data. Therefore, human studies validating the reports of experimental studies using animal models are important.
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DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1346035
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