Smoking eases inflamed bowels via bacteria migration
16 days ago
- #gut bacteria
- #smoking
- #ulcerative colitis
- Researchers discovered that smoking helps ulcerative colitis by producing metabolites that encourage mouth bacteria to grow in the large intestine, triggering an immune response.
- Smoking increases the risk of Crohn's disease but protects against ulcerative colitis, a mystery studied for over 40 years.
- Smokers with ulcerative colitis had mouth bacteria like Streptococcus in their gut mucosa, unlike ex-smokers.
- Metabolites like hydroquinone, higher in smokers, promoted the growth of Streptococcus in the gut mucosa.
- Streptococcus mitis, when introduced in mice, reduced inflammation in ulcerative colitis but worsened Crohn's disease.
- S. mitis triggered Th1 cells, which reduced inflammation in colitis but exacerbated Crohn's disease due to existing Th1-driven inflammation.
- Direct treatment with Streptococcus bacteria or hydroquinone could mimic smoking's benefits without its health risks.