AUTHOR=Rodrigues Vanessa Fernandes , Elias-Oliveira Jefferson , Pereira Ítalo Sousa , Pereira Jéssica Assis , Barbosa Sara Cândida , Machado Melissa Santana Gonsalez , Carlos Daniela 

TITLE=Akkermansia muciniphila and Gut Immune System: A Good Friendship That Attenuates Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Obesity, and Diabetes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.934695

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2022.934695

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Akkermansia muciniphila</italic> is a Gram-negative anaerobic mucus-layer-degrading bacterium that colonizes the intestinal mucosa of humans and rodents. Metagenomic data have shown an inverse correlation between the abundance of <italic>A. muciniphila</italic> and diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, and diabetes. Thus, in recent decades, the potential of this bacterium as an immunomodulatory probiotic for autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases has been explored in experimental models. Corroborating these human correlation data, it has been reported that <italic>A. muciniphila</italic> slows down the development and progression of diabetes, obesity, and IBD in mice. Consequently, clinical studies with obese and diabetic patients are being performed, and the preliminary results are very promising. Therefore, this mini review highlights the main findings regarding the beneficial roles of <italic>A. muciniphila</italic> and its action mechanisms in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases.</p>