Regulatory role of short-chain fatty acids in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises a group of chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Accumulating evidence shows that the development of IBD is always accompanied by the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota (GM), causing a decrease in prebiotic levels and an increase in harmful metabolite levels. This leads to persistent immune response and inflammation in the intestine, greatly impairing the physiological function of the gastrointestinal tract. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced by probiotic gut bacteria from a fiber-rich diet that cannot be digested directly. SCFAs with significant anti-inflammatory functions regulate immune function and prevent an excessive immune response, thereby delaying the clinical progression of IBD. In this review, we summarize the generation of SCFAs and their potential therapeutic effects on IBD. Furthermore, we suggest that SCFAs may modulate innate immune recognition and cytokine production to intervene in the progression of IBD. Additional randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies should also investigate the clinical impact of SCFA. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-022-00869-5.