A recent study conducted by Franco-American researchers demonstrated the relationship between the intestinal microbiota (or intestinal flora) and the development of skin allergies, such as eczema. Enough to open up a new field of therapeutic possibilities.
The link between the change in the composition of the intestinal microbiota and the development of eczema had already emerged from epidemiological research, but without any real explanation. For the first time, this relationship is explained. This study was carried out jointly by French and American researchers, under the direction of two CNRS researchers, the results of which were published in the journal PNAS.
The gut microbiota, an essential immune system
The intestinal microbiota is made up of a multitude of microorganisms and located in our digestive tract. Their organization is very balanced and contributes to the proper functioning of the digestive system and the immune system. But medical treatments, prolonged stress or even a poor diet can upset its composition and affect our ability to defend ourselves against bad bacteria.
The researchers carried out their test on mice lacking the MAVS gene, which plays an essential role in the detection of viruses by the immune system. They noticed in them an unbalanced gut microbiota and a strong allergic skin reaction. To prove the cause and effect link, they transferred the altered microbiota to mice with balanced microbiota. The result was clear: they developed a strong allergic reaction.
A new therapeutic route against eczema
In addition to the skin reaction, scientists have observed that the modification of the gut microbiota makes the intestine more fragile, allowing the migration of certain intestinal bacteria to the spleen and lymph nodes and increasing the severity of the allergic skin reaction. “These results shed light on the unexpected protective role of an antiviral protein (MAVS) on the stability of the intestinal flora,” the researchers decipher.
This discovery opens up a new therapeutic avenue for improving eczema treatments by targeting the intestinal microbiota. “These data justify the manipulation of the intestinal microbiota as a therapeutic intervention in subjects at risk of developing an allergy,” the researchers concluded.
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