Research progress on the microbial metabolism and transport of polyamines and their roles in animal gut homeostasis.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of cellular mechanisms and preclinical research with no systematic search or primary human data
PubMed 40234982 · doi:10.1186/s40104-025-01193-x
What was done
Narrative review summarizing published literature on the biosynthesis, catabolism, transport, and biological functions of dietary and microbiota-derived polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) in intestinal epithelial cells and animal gut homeostasis.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative values or statistical metrics. It qualitatively summarizes that microbial polyamines regulate intestinal epithelial proliferation, migration, and apoptosis through transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulation; maintain gut barrier integrity; and promote bacterial growth, swarming, and biofilm formation, with supplementation reportedly improving host microbial composition, nutrient absorption, and mucosal immunity.
Why it matters
This review outlines the molecular and cellular pathways through which microbial polyamines support intestinal barrier function, providing a mechanistic framework for targeting polyamine metabolism in intestinal diseases.
Limits
The abstract provides a purely narrative synthesis without systematic search criteria, meta-analysis, or quantitative effect sizes. Many discussed pathways are based on preclinical and cellular models, and clinical utility or optimal dosing in targeted populations remains unestablished.
Cited by
- context Approximately one-third of the spermidine in the human body is produced by the intestinal microbiota.