Mechanisms by which complex carbohydrates influence immune imbalance in COPD via the gut–lung axis: from colonic fermentation to pulmonary immune responses (opens in new tab)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized not only by local airway inflammation and tissue injury, but also frequently by persistent systemic immune imbalance. After entering the colon, complex carbohydrates can be converted by the gut microbiota into gut-derived molecules such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and tryptophan metabolites, which may further influence the pulmonary immune status in COPD. These effects are mainly related to the regulation of colonic fermenta...