The bacteria that aid digestion help keep intact mucosa -
Scientists at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have found that bacteria that help digestion help keep intact intestinal lining. The findings, reported online in the journal Immunity , could provide new therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and a range of other disorders.
The research involved the gut microbiome, which contains some 100000000000000 bacteria. The role of these microorganisms in the promotion or disease prevention is an important area of study. Einstein scientists discovered that the absorption of a specific bacterial by-product is essential for the maintenance of the integrity of the epithelium, intestinal monolayer responsible for preservation of gut bacteria and their toxins within the intestines and away from the body. Crossings of the intact intestinal epithelium is associated with a number of diseases.
"Intestinal bacteria secrete a variety of chemicals known as metabolites," said Sridhar Mani, MD, author of co-corresponding paper. "These bacteria and their metabolites have been known to influence the integrity of the intestinal epithelium, but exactly how they did it was not known. " Dr. Mani is a professor of medicine and genetics and Miriam Mandel Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research at Einstein and attending physician, oncology at Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer and Montefiore Medical Center.
Dr. Mani and his colleagues suspected that the bacterial metabolites exert their influence by binding to and activating a protein in the nuclei of epithelial cells of the intestine called pregnane X receptor (PXR ). PXR was known to be activated by chemicals in the body (as bile acids), as well as drugs, including steroids and antibiotics.
In a series of studies on mice, researchers found that a metabolite called indole 3-propionic acid (IPA) -is produced exclusively by what is called commensal bacteria, which help digestion, both strengthens the barrier function of the intestinal epithelium and prevents the inflammation by activating PXR. Specifically, PXR activation suppresses production of inflammatory called tumor necrosis factor protein (TNF-α), while increasing the levels of a protein which enhances the transitions between adjacent intestinal epithelial cells.
"By adding probiotic bacteria in the form of intestinal or by direct administration IPA IPA-production, we may be able to prevent or treat IBD and other inflammatory disorders that occur when the intestinal epithelium has been compromised, "said Dr. Mani. "Such a strategy could also be considered for other health problems that can occur when the intestinal epithelium breaks down, including some forms of liver disease, diabetes, asthma, allergies, obesity and heart disease. "
The team of Dr. Mani is currently developing new probiotic to restore the barrier function of the intestinal epithelium by promoting interaction with PXR IPA.
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