The links between our lifestyles and the balance of our immune system are constantly surprising medicine. Certain habits, however recognized as harmful, sometimes seem to produce unexpected effects on well identified diseases. This is the case of tobacco, whose differentiated impact on inflammatory intestine pathologies has intrigued researchers for decades. A recent advance finally sheds light on the mechanisms of this interaction and redefines our understanding of intestinal inflammation.
The two diseases, however, share common symptoms, such as abdominal pain, fatigue and persistent diarrhea. The difference is played out in the location and nature of inflammation. The colitis is limited to the colonist and mainly affects the mucosa, while Crohn sometimes extends to the entire digestive tract and damages all the layers of the intestinal wall. This opposition has long fueled questions without a convincing explanation emerging.
How bacterial migration influences intestinal inflammation
The Hiroshi Ohno team, at the Riken Center for Integrative Medical Science, provided an answer by studying the intestinal microbiota in mice. Researchers have shown that in smokers with colitis, some mouth bacteria, such as streptococci, are in the middle of the colonist. Normally, these microbes simply cross the digestive tract without fixing it. Tobacco smoke, by modifying the chemical environment of the intestine, allows them, on the contrary, to prosper.
The metabolomic analysis led by the Japanese team revealed the increased presence of hydroquinone, an aromatic compound produced during the degradation of tobacco. This molecule promotes the survival and growth of oral bacteria in the colon. These then trigger a particular immune response. They stimulate so -called Th1 cells, which modulate the inflammatory reaction. In colitis, this activation calms the excessive response of Th2 cells responsible for lesions, which reduces symptoms. Conversely, in Crohn, it is precisely the TH1 that feeds inflammation, explaining why tobacco aggravates this disease. These results, detailed in the scientific journal Gut, potentially end a medical enigma of several decades.
To new treatments inspired by tobacco
This discovery offers an unprecedented perspective for therapeutic research. Scientists consider it possible to reproduce the beneficial effects observed in smokers with colitis without resorting to cigarettes and its deleterious health effects. They consider the targeted use of bacterial strains such as Streptococcus Mitis or compounds similar to hydroquinone in order to control intestinal inflammation.
The study conducted by the Riken Center, relayed by New Atlas, suggests that these approaches could one day turn into new generation probiotics or in metabolic supplements adapted to patients. They open the way to precision medicine that would take into account immune differences between colitis and Crohn. If tobacco remains a major risk factor for the heart and lungs, it paradoxically served as a model to understand the intimate mechanisms of microbiota and digestive immunity. This medical paradox, now elucidated, could become a source of therapeutic innovation.
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
