The impact of gut microbiota and metabolite-driven immune cell spatiotemporal dynamics on tumors

Source: PubMed Central Open Access, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

Abstract Cancer poses a significant threat to human health. The immune response plays a pivotal role in tumor cell elimination, with increasing attention given to the spatiotemporal dynamics of immune cells across temporal, spatial, and functional dimensions. The gut microbiota, which constitutes the majority of the human microbiome, contributes to tumor initiation and progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) serves as the primary site for immune cell-mediated anti-tumor responses, with the gut microbiota and its metabolites driving immune cell activation and spatiotemporal remodeling. This review explores the mechanisms by which the gut microbiota and its metabolites influence anti-tumor immunity, alongside the impact of immune cell dynamics on tumors. Furthermore, it proposes novel research strategies, including the “gut microbiota-immune cell dynamic monitoring model” and the “organoid-microbe co-culture platform.” This work lays a theoretical foundation for advancing our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and developing innovative therapeutic approaches.