Mechanisms for the microbial regulation of nutrient transporters in the small intestine

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K20896
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0902:General internal medicine and related fields
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Yoshiyuki 富山大学, 学術研究部医学系, 病院特別助教 (30912331)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 腸内細菌 / 脂質代謝 / 肥満 / 糖尿病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Administration of polyphenol X (hereafter X) improved obesity and glucose tolerance in high fat diet-induced obese mice. X increased fecal lipid excretion and inhibited the expression of the lipid absorption transporter CD36 in the small intestine. X also inhibited the activity of pancreatic lipase. These results suggest that X improves obesity by inhibiting lipid absorption and promoting lipid excretion in the feces. These effects were cancelled under antibiotic treatment, suggesting that X improves obesity in the gut microbiota-dependent manner. 16SrRNA sequence analysis of the gut microbipta showed that X significantly increased Akkermansia muciniphila (AM), a bacterium important for improving intestinal barrier function and metabolism. X improved intestinal barrier function via increased AM.

Free Research Field

腸内細菌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、食品由来成分であるポリフェノールXが、代謝にとって重要な菌であるAkkermansia muciniphilaの増加を介して宿主の代謝を改善することを明らかにした。この作用は、近年注目されている腸内細菌を介した治療に繋がりうる重要な知見である。さらなる解析を進めることで、食品由来成分や薬品などをその薬理学的作用のみならず、腸内細菌への介入を通じて肥満や糖尿病といったメタボリックシンドロームを治療するという新たな治療戦略に繋がる可能性がある。