Gut Microbiota, the Immune System, and Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes

Gut microbiota, the largest microbial community living in the human body, exerts a variety of metabolic, structural, and functional actions. In particular, it is essential for the full immune system development and maturation, as demonstrated by studies on germ-free animals, showing immune impairment at different levels. Gut microbiota shapes the immune responses by promoting immune tolerance toward food antigens and commensals in the steady state. This process is orchestrated by a complex network of both microbial and human cells and molecular mediators. Microbiota eubiosis is fundamental in establishing a correct balance between tolerance and immunity. Contrarily, microbiota dysbiosis is correlated with alterations in the immune balance, as evidenced in intestinal pathologies characterized by aberrant immune responses, such as inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease, in which either break of tolerance against commensals or microbial dysbiosis is reported. On the other hand, a role for gut microbiota in stimulating the cytotoxic immune response in contexts of immunosuppression, like the ones featuring tumors and vaccinations, is emerging. The bifaceted role of gut microbiota in the delicate balance between tolerance and immunity could be exploited in order to develop pioneering therapeutic strategies, complementary to the pharmacological ones, thus representing a field worthy of further studies specifically focused on this topic.