Research reveals resB®’s positive effects on structure and function of lungs

Though gut and lungs are anatomically distinct organs, a potential anatomic communication due to complex metabolic pathways involving the respective microbiota have confirmed the existence of gut-lung axis. Compared to the better studied gut microbiota, the lung microbiota explored only in recent years represents a more discreet part of the whole microbiota associated with human hosts. The mesenteric lymphatic system is an essential part of the gut-lung axis through which the intact bacterial cells, cellular fragments or metabolites such as SCFAs translocate across the intestinal barrier reach the systemic circulation and alter the lung immune response.

Inspite of how significant the respiratory system is for human health, people do not consider taking care of their lungs until and unless a problem presents itself. Earlier lung diseases were typically associated with people who smoked (active smoking), who have been around smokers (passive smoking) or who have exposed to irritants in the work environment such as fire fighters, coal miners, painters and carpenters. However, now considering the high lung disease burden in the country people have now started to seriously take care of their lung health.

Since ages, people have been taking probiotics to support digestion and gut health however in the past decade pulmonary scientists have turned their attention as to how microbiome science can be used to support lung health. This is primarily due to the growing evidence that showed a positive correlation between gut microbial dysbiosis and respiratory health.

Dietary patterns, reckless use of stress inducers (broad spectrum antibiotics and cancer drugs) and disease situations (infections, chronic inflammatory or metabolic disorders) can alter the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome leading a state of dysbiosis. The surviving bacteria as well as their harmful metabolites together with fragments of the dead bacteria cross the mesenteric lymphatic system and enter the systemic circulation. These further modulate the lung immune responses by triggering the inflammatory pathways via increasing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9) which degrades the lung structure eventually leading to lung fibrosis.

Researchers investigated the effects of oral administration with resB® to positively impact lung health by reducing inflammation and damage induced by a bacterial imbalance or dysbiosis. 

Results from in vitro models showed that oral supplementation with resB® is associated with a decrease in MMP-9 inflammatory pathway activity, associated with tissue damage and neutrophilic inflammation. 

In the in vivo models of dysbiosis and lung tissue damage, oral resB® administration leads to improved lung structure and reduced neutrophilic inflammation. 

With increasing threats to lung health in today’s world, the possible clinical relevance of these findings may positively affect both patients with existing chronic pulmonary disease and patients hoping to protect their lung health against inflammatory stimuli. These findings have already paved the way for clinical trials to determine the effect of resB® supplementation in healthy people, smokers, and people with asthma; quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis; COVID-19 and pneumonia incidence and prognosis in acute care settings.

Watch this space for more updates on resB®.