Crosstalk Between the GI Redox Environment, Microbiome, and the Immune System

The homeostatic control of the gastrointestinal (GI) redox environment, which is the balance between antioxidant defense and/or oxidative stress, plays an essential role in the function of the gut in nutrient digestion, cell proliferation and immune responses. The gut microbiome, which is involved in such processes as host energy harvesting and immune homeostasis, has been recognized as a key modulator of human health. As a critical environmental factor, the GI redox environment has been implicated in the modification of the gut microbiome. Meanwhile, though it is still in infancy, research has showed a role of microbiota in controlling the GI redox environment as well. In addition, as important parts of intestinal innate immunity, many kinds of immunocytes can secrete effectors (such as antimicrobial peptides, resistins and Heme-Oxygenase-1) that change the intestinal redox environment, thereby changing the gut microbiome and the metabolism of the host.

This Research Topic aims to assemble a series of articles that highlight the crosstalk between the GI redox environment, microbiome, and the immune system. Understanding the mechanisms in which the mucosal immune system changes the GI redox environment, the mechanisms in which the GI redox environment modulates gut microbiome, and the mechanisms in which the gut microbiome mediates GI redox environment and immune responses could provide us with new methods to manipulate the gut microbiota, new targets to control redox homeostasis, and new concepts of the operation of the host immune system. Interdisciplinary connections among scientists in these fields together with use of multi-omics technologies are necessary to advance our understanding of the complex relationships between the GI redox environment, microbiome, and the immune system, and could be used in combating immune and metabolic diseases.

We welcome the submission of Mini-reviews, Reviews, Brief Research reports, Original Research, and Clinical trials that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• The effect of the gastrointestinal redox environment on gut microbiota and function of the host immune system.
• Mechanisms of gut microbiota controlling the gastrointestinal redox environment and the subsequent effect on host immune system.
• Interventions on the gastrointestinal redox environment and modulations of gut microbiome to alleviative immune disease.

Topic Editor Guojun Wu has a patent royalty from Notitia Biotechnologies Company. The other Topic Editors and Topic Coordinator declare no conflict of interest with regard to this Research Topic.