Exploring the Microbial Landscape: Gut Dysbiosis and Therapeutic Strategies in Pancreatitis—A Narrative Review

Abstract

The gut microbiota is emerging as an important contributor to the homeostasis of the human body through its involvement in nutrition and metabolism, protection against pathogens, and the development and modulation of the immune system. It has therefore become an important research topic in recent decades. Although the association between intestinal dysbiosis and numerous digestive pathologies has been thoroughly researched, its involvement in pancreatic diseases constitutes a novelty in the specialized literature. In recent years, growing evidence has pointed to the critical involvement of the pancreas in regulating the intestinal microbiota, as well as the impact of the intestinal microbiota on pancreatic physiology, which implies the existence of a bidirectional connection known as the “gut–pancreas axis”. It is theorized that any change at either of these levels triggers a response in the other component, hence leading to the evolution of pancreatitis. However, there are not enough data to determine whether gut dysbiosis is an underlying cause or a result of pancreatitis; therefore, more research is needed in this area. The purpose of this narrative review is to highlight the role of gut dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic pancreatitis, its evolution, and the prospect of employing the microbiota as a therapeutic intervention for pancreatitis.

Keywords

• gut microbiota
• pancreatitis
• dysbiosis
• gut–pancreas axis
• microbiota-based treatment