BACKGROUND: The aetiology of ulcerative colitis is uncertain but may relate to environmental factors in genetically predisposed individuals. Sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) have been implicated through the harmful effects of hydrogen sulphide, a by-product of their respiration. Hydrogen sulphide is freely permeable to cell membranes and inhibits butyrate. This review examines the available evidence relating to SRB as a possible cause of ulcerative colitis. METHODS: A literature search was conducted using the PubMed database and search terms 'sulphate reducing bacteria', 'hydrogen sulphide', 'ulcerative colitis', 'mucous gel layer' and 'trans-sulphuration'. RESULTS: Search results were scrutinized and 113 pertinent full-text articles were selected for review. Collected data related to hydrogen sulphide metabolism, SRB respiration, mucous gel layer composition and their association with ulcerative colitis. CONCLUSION: There is evidence to implicate SRB as an environmental factor in ulcerative colitis. More sophisticated mucosal dissection and molecular techniques using bacteria-directed probes are required to determine an association definitively.
BACKGROUND: The aetiology of ulcerative colitis is uncertain but may relate to environmental factors in genetically predisposed individuals. Sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) have been implicated through the harmful effects of hydrogen sulphide, a by-product of their respiration. Hydrogen sulphide is freely permeable to cell membranes and inhibits butyrate. This review examines the available evidence relating to SRB as a possible cause of ulcerative colitis. METHODS: A literature search was conducted using the PubMed database and search terms 'sulphate reducing bacteria', 'hydrogen sulphide', 'ulcerative colitis', 'mucous gel layer' and 'trans-sulphuration'. RESULTS: Search results were scrutinized and 113 pertinent full-text articles were selected for review. Collected data related to hydrogen sulphide metabolism, SRB respiration, mucous gel layer composition and their association with ulcerative colitis. CONCLUSION: There is evidence to implicate SRB as an environmental factor in ulcerative colitis. More sophisticated mucosal dissection and molecular techniques using bacteria-directed probes are required to determine an association definitively.
Authors: David C Dallas; Megan R Sanctuary; Yunyao Qu; Shabnam Haghighat Khajavi; Alexandria E Van Zandt; Melissa Dyandra; Steven A Frese; Daniela Barile; J Bruce German Journal: Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr Date: 2017-10-13 Impact factor: 11.176
Authors: Stefan Farese; Emilie Stauffer; Robert Kalicki; Tatjana Hildebrandt; Brigitte M Frey; Felix J Frey; Dominik E Uehlinger; Andreas Pasch Journal: Clin J Am Soc Nephrol Date: 2011-05-12 Impact factor: 8.237