The oral-gut-circulatory axis: from homeostasis to colon cancer

Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023 Nov 8:13:1289452. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1289452. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

The human microbiota is widely recognized as providing crucial health benefits to its host, specifically by modulating immune homeostasis. Microbial imbalance, known as dysbiosis, is linked to several conditions in the body. The oral cavity and gut host the two largest microbial communities playing a major role in microbial-associated diseases. While the oral-gut axis has been previously explored, our review uniquely highlights the significance of incorporating the circulatory system into this axis. The interaction between immune cells, inflammatory factors, circulating bacteria, and microbial metabolites influences the homeostasis of both the oral and gut microbiota in a bidirectional manner. In this comprehensive review, we aim to describe the bacterial components of the oral-gut-circulatory axis in both health and disease, with a specific focus on colon cancer.

Keywords: circulation; colon cancer; dysbiosis; immune response; microbiota; oral-gut axis.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Cardiovascular System*
  • Colonic Neoplasms*
  • Dysbiosis / microbiology
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Microbiota*

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The SUNY Downstate Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology provided funding support for the publication of this article.