Narrative review on bacteria-derived metabolites in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis

SUMMARYThe pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) is heterogeneous; the causes are considered to be external factors such as stress, infections, antibiotics, and other medications, diet, and intrinsic factors such as genetic predisposition. The aim of this narrative review is to analyze data on intestinal flora and bacteria-derived metabolites in inflammatory bowel diseases and ulcerative colitis in particular. The main focus is on proteolytic, saccharolytic, mucin-degrading, and bile acid-metabolizing bacteria. What types of metabolites are beneficial for intestinal integrity and the patient's health? How can dietary preferences trigger disease and cause complications? What kind of changes in the microbiome promote the disease? We consider what targets/receptors metabolites act on and their physiological role. The knowledge accumulated over the past years on the gut metagenome, metabolome, and signaling mechanisms may allow, in the future, modulating the composition of the intestinal microbiome and suppressing the growth of pathogenic flora without the use of antibiotics, but due to pro- and prebiotics, products of bacterial metabolism, including quorum sensing molecules.