ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes the cellular responses induced/modulated by short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) focusing on their G protein–coupled receptor–dependent effects on cells involved in the immune response and protection of the host (i.e., leukocytes and epithelial cells). It discusses some recent studies that implicate SCFAs in the regulation of inflammation and the response to infectious agents. Different metabolic pathways are involved in the production of SCFAs. Depending on the bacterial species involved and on environmental factors, including type and availability of substrate, pH, and oxygen tension, the flow through the metabolic pathways may be different, affecting the amount and proportions of SCFAs produced. The chapter shows that SCFAs induce significant anti-inflammatory effects and may have beneficial effects in chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, asthma, and gout. Therapeutic effects of SCFAs have been explored in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, especially with Crohn's disease.
