The gut-skin axis: a bi-directional, microbiota-driven relationship with therapeutic potential

This review explores the emerging term "gut-skin axis" (GSA), describing the bidirectional signaling that occurs between the skin and the gastrointestinal tract under both homeostatic and disease conditions. Central to GSA communication are the gut and skin microbiota, the microbial communities that colonize these barrier surfaces. By influencing diverse host pathways, including innate immune, vitamin D receptor, and Aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling, a balanced microbiota contributes to both tissue homeostasis and host defense. In contrast, microbiota imbalance, or dysbiosis at one site, can lead to local barrier dysfunction, resulting in the activation of signaling pathways that can disrupt tissue…

• CI
  Canadian Institutes of Health Research
• NS
  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada