Importance of Gut Microbiota and Epigenetic Modifications in Maintaining Health or Diseases

Some organisms may modulate a healthy state or cause disorders by disruption or induction of several signaling pathways in human body. According to recent evaluations, numerous metabolic disorders such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders, and cancers are as the result of bacterial interactions with the host. Various species of the bacteria, called commensal microbiota, live in normal human body which modulate some of the host critical functions by different mechanisms. Induction of epigenetic modifications in host cells that are important in the maintenance of homeostasis or induction of disorders is amongst these mechanisms. Indeed, different factors may induce epigenetic modifications. For example, diet and its effect on microbiota community may epigenetically change the expression of some specific genes. Such modifications may also be dangerous and inherited to next generations. The current review tried to explain the inter-talk between gut microbiota and epigenetic modifications in health and disorders.