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Table 4 Regulatory mechanisms of keystone microorganisms and derived metabolites in radiation injury

From: The gut microbiota as a booster for radiotherapy: novel insights into radio-protection and radiation injury

References

Keystone microorganism(s)

Functional constituents

Classification

Mechanism summary

Fan, China, [8]

NA

Butyrate

SCFA

Enhances barrier integrity and suppresses inflammation by activating GPR41/43 thereby ameliorating intestinal injury

Fan, China, [42]

NA

Valerate

SCFA

Enhances barrier integrity by re-elevating the post-radiation decline of cytoskeleton component KRT1, and constraints oxidative and inflammatory responses thereby ameliorating post-radiation hematopoietic and intestinal injury

Guo, US, [47]

Lachnospiraceae

Propionate, butyrate

SCFA

Ameliorates intestinal and hematopoietic injury by reducing release of reactive oxygen species and DNA damage

Fan, China, [43]

NA

IPA

Indole compound

Enhances barrier integrity by re-elevating the post-radiation decline of PXR/ACBP, and constraints oxidative and inflammatory responses thereby ameliorating post-radiation hematopoietic and intestinal injury

Fan, China, [11]

NA

3,3'-diindolylmethane

Indole compound

Promotes post-radiation DNA damage repairment, intestinal stem cell survival and anti-oxidative reaction thereby ameliorating post-radiation intestinal injury

Crawford and Gordon, US, [4]

NA

NA

Lipid metabolism

Existence of gut microbiota increases apoptosis and aggravates post-radiation enteritis by suppressing the expression of fasting-induced adipose factor

Dar, US, [52]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

15-lipoxygenase

Lipid metabolism

Augments post-radiation intestinal barrier breach by inducing ferroptosis and promoting inflammation

Ciorba, US, [53], [54]

Lactobacillus

Lipoteichoic acid

Probiotics

Promotes intestinal mesenchymal stem cells to migrate to crypts to release PGE2 near intestinal stem cells by activating TLR2/MYD88 and CXCL12-CXCR4, so as to impart anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative functions

Kweon, Korea, [55]

Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium

Lactate

Probiotics

Promotes supply of Wnt ligands from Paneth cells and mesenchymal cells by activating GPR81 thereby activating β-catenin pathway and enhancing post-radiation intestinal epithelial regeneration

Kweon, Korea, [63]

Akkermansia

Acetate, propionate

Probiotics/SCFA

Produces SCFAs to activate Wnt/β-catenin-RAS-ERK pathway in intestinal stem cells thereby promoting proliferation and ameliorating post-radiation intestinal injury

Kaakoush, Australia, [67]

Sutterella

NA

NA

Degrades the immuno-protective secretory IgA thereby compromising host's anti-pathogenic capacity and possibly increasing susceptibility to injury insult like radiation, which still merits validation

  1. NA Not applicable, SCFA Short chain fatty acid, GPR G-protein-coupled receptor, KRT1 Keratin, type II cytoskeletal 1, IPA Indole 3-propionic acid, PXR Pregnane X receptor, ACBP Acyl-CoA-binding protein