The effects of microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids on T lymphocytes: From autoimmune diseases to cancer. (2025)

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), acetate, propionate, and butyrate, are the microbial metabolites that have significant functions in host immune modulation, especially T lymphocyte function. Implication by recent evidence indicates SCFAs regulate T-cell growth, differentiation, metabolism, effector function, and apoptosis through histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition, G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, and metabolic reprogramming processes. Butyrate, for example, enhances regulatory T cell (Treg) and Interleukin 10 (IL-10)-producing T helper 1 (Th1) cell differentiation as well as context-dependent regulation on T helper 17 (Th17) cell development. SCFAs also impact cytotoxic CD8+ T cells through augmented production of IFN-γ and memory formation, which enhances antiviral and ant