Suppression of Obesity by an Intestinal Helminth through Interactions with Intestinal Microbiota

Abstract

Obesity is increasingly causing lifestyle diseases in developed countries where helminthic infections are rarely seen. Here, we investigated whether an intestinal nematode, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, has a suppressive role in diet-induced obesity in mice. Infection with H. polygyrus suppressed weight gain in obese mice, which was associated with increased uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression in adipocytes and a higher serum norepinephrine (NE) concentration. Blocking interactions of NE with its receptor on adipocytes resulted in the failure to prevent weight gain and to enhance UCP1 expression in obese mice infected with H. polygyrus, indicating that NE is responsible for the protective effects of H. polygyrus on obesity. In addition to sympathetic nerve-derived NE, the intestinal microbiota was involved in the increase in NE. Infection with H. polygyrus altered the composition of intestinal bacteria, and antibiotic treatment to reduce intestinal bacteria reversed the higher NE concentration, UCP1 expression, and prevention of the weight gain observed after H. polygyrus infection. Our data indicate that H. polygyrus exerts suppressive roles on obesity through modulation of microbiota that produce NE.

Improvement of Alcohol-Poisoning Symptoms in Mice by the Oral Administration of Live Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T Cells

“…The bioactive compounds may cooperatively inhibit the synthesis of harmful products in the intestinal tract. Some research has shown that a change in the intestinal microbiota is involved in lifestyle and mental diseases [43,44]. We demonstrated in this study that the live SN13T cells are significant for maintaining intestinal microbiota balance and restoring from the symptoms of alcoholism.…”

The interplay of type 2 immunity, helminth infection and the microbiota in regulating metabolism

“…89 As mentioned earlier, one recent study reported that the beneficial effects of H. polygyrus infection on DIO in mice were positively associated with a modification of the microbiota leading to an increased level of circulating NE. 70 As also mentioned earlier, adapting to stress, such a helminth infection, requires proper energetic balance and helminths are able to alter glucose uptake within the intestine, 62 likely resulting in restricted caloric intake. Interestingly, the microbiota has also been shown to play a role in helminth-induced alterations to nutrient uptake, with one group demonstrating that T. muris infection altered the nutrient processing within the gut in association with a reduced prevalence of Prevotella and Parabacteroides species (Figure 2).…”

“…Recently, a study investigating Strongyloides venezuelensis and DIO showed an improvement of insulin sensitivity upon infection, and these benefits were linked to a modification of microbiota, including an increase in several species of Lactobacillus, and a reduction of intestinal permeability (Figure ) . As mentioned earlier, one recent study reported that the beneficial effects of H. polygyru s infection on DIO in mice were positively associated with a modification of the microbiota leading to an increased level of circulating NE . As also mentioned earlier, adapting to stress, such a helminth infection, requires proper energetic balance and helminths are able to alter glucose uptake within the intestine , likely resulting in restricted caloric intake .…”

“…Indeed, depletion of microbiota leads to the loss of the protection and a decreased level of circulating NE (Figure 2). 70 This later study indicates that although helminth infections can directly impact metabolism via type 2 immune responses, they may also alter metabolic status by impacting on the microbiota (Figure 1, Table 1).…”

“…also showed that H. polygyrus can provide protection against DOI by increasing thermogenesis, and further demonstrated that this effect was dependent on microbiota and NE production. Indeed, depletion of microbiota leads to the loss of the protection and a decreased level of circulating NE (Figure ) . This later study indicates that although helminth infections can directly impact metabolism via type 2 immune responses, they may also alter metabolic status by impacting on the microbiota (Figure , Table ).…”