An overview of host‐derived molecules that interact with gut microbiota

The gut microbiota comprises bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, and viruses that live together and interact with each other and with host cells. A stable gut microbiota is vital for regulating host metabolism and maintaining body health, while a disturbed microbiota may induce different kinds of disease. In addition, diet is also considered to be the main factor that influences the gut microbiota. The host could shape the gut microbiota through other factors. Here, we reviewed the mechanisms that mediate host regulation on gut microbiota, involved in gut‐derived molecules, including gut‐derived immune system molecules (secretory immunoglobulin A, antimicrobial peptides, cytokines, cluster of differentiation 4+ effector T cell, and innate lymphoid cells), sources related to gut‐derived mucosal molecules (carbon sources, nitrogen sources, oxygen sources, and electron respiratory acceptors), gut‐derived exosomal noncoding RNA (ncRNAs) (microRNAs, circular RNA, and long ncRNA), and molecules derived from organs other than the gut (estrogen, androgen, neurohormones, bile acid, and lactic acid). This study provides a systemic overview for understanding the interplay between gut microbiota and host, a comprehensive source for potential ways to manipulate gut microbiota, and a solid foundation for future personalized treatment that utilizes gut microbiota. The mechanisms that mediate host regulation on gut microbiota, involved in the gut‐ and nongut‐derived metabolites, including gut‐derived immune system factors, sources related to gut‐derived mucosal metabolites, gut‐derived exosomes' noncoding RNA regulation, and nongut‐derived metabolite‐related sources are discussed to provide a systematic overview of how host metabolites govern the gut microbiota. Highlights The host‐derived molecules that could interact with the gut microbiota and the mechanism of how these molecules affected the gut microbiota were summarized. The host‐derived molecules that shape the gut microbiota include gut‐derived immune molecules, sources related to gut‐derived mucosal molecules, gut‐derived exosomal noncoding RNAs, and molecules derived from organs other than the gut were separately reviewed. Understanding how host factors regulate the gut microbiota and influence disease incidence can help to develop novel preventive and therapeutic interventions, improve the cure rate of fecal microbiota transplantation, and even aid in the prediction of disease susceptibility in individuals.