2020/10/22 by Christopher Hopper, Ladie Kimberly De La Cruz, Kristin V. Lyles +7 · 8 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · Medicine · #Heme Oxygenase-1 and Carbon Monoxide #Neuroscience of respiration and sleep #Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
paper · doi:10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00586
openalex publication_date 2020/10/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Nature is full of examples of symbiotic relationships. The critical symbiotic relation between host and mutualistic bacteria is attracting increasing attention to the degree that the gut microbiome is proposed by some as a new organ system. The microbiome exerts its systemic effect through a diverse range of metabolites, which include gaseous molecules such as H 2, CO 2, NH 3, CH 4, NO, H 2 S, and CO. In turn, the human host can influence the microbiome through these gaseous molecules as well in a reciprocal manner. Among these gaseous molecules, NO, H 2 S, and CO occupy a special place because of their widely known physiological functions in the host and their overlap and similarity in both targets and functions. The roles that NO and H 2 S play have been extensively examined by others. Herein, the roles of CO in host–gut microbiome communication are examined through a discussion of (1) host production and function of CO, (2) available CO donors as research tools, (3) CO production from diet and bacterial sources, (4) effect of CO on bacteria including CO sensing, and (5) gut microbiome production of CO. There is a large amount of literature suggesting the “messenger” role of CO in host–gut microbiome communication. However, much more work is needed to begin achieving a systematic understanding of this issue.