THE ROLE OF GUT MICROBIOTA DYSBIOSIS IN THE PATHOGENESIS AND PROGRESSION OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE IN CHILDREN (LITERATURE REVIEW)
Keywords:
Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease; children; gut microbiota; dysbiosis; mucosal immunity; NLRP3 inflammasome; intestinal fibrosis; fecal microbiota transplantation.Abstract
Abstract
Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s disease
(CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), represents a growing burden in the pediatric
population, with gut microbiota dysbiosis increasingly recognized as a central
pathogenic driver. This review synthesizes current evidence linking gut microbial
imbalance—characterized by reduced diversity, depletion of short-chain fatty acid
(SCFA)-producing commensals, and expansion of pro-inflammatory species—to
mucosal barrier dysfunction, immune dysregulation, and chronic intestinal
inflammation in children. Persistent dysbiosis activates innate immune pathways
including Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the NLRP3 inflammasome, perpetuating a
cycle of epithelial injury, cytokine release, and fibrotic remodeling. Early-life
disruptions to microbial colonization, including antibiotic exposure, cesarean delivery,
and formula feeding, further predispose children to IBD onset. Despite growing
mechanistic understanding, pediatric-specific longitudinal microbiome data remain
scarce, highlighting the urgent need for validated biomarkers and microbiota-targeted
therapeutic strategies. Interventions such as dietary modulation, fecal microbiota
transplantation (FMT), and probiotic supplementation offer promising avenues to
restore microbial homeostasis and preserve intestinal integrity in affected children.
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