Microbiome research reveals how bacterial lipids influence liver and muscle health in mice
An interdisciplinary team of researchers from UConn and the University of Pittsburgh is filling knowledge gaps about the surprising roles that our microbiomes play in our health. The team's recent studies, published in Gastro Hep Advances and The Journal of Physiology, focus on Bacteroidota species that grow in our guts and mouths, where they produce glycine lipids that interact with our…
A recent study from the University of Connecticut and the University of Pittsburgh has shed light on the surprising influence of bacterial lipids on liver and muscle health in mice. The research, published in Gastro Hep Advances and The Journal of Physiology, reveals that these lipids, produced by Bacteroidota species in the gut and mouth, can improve mitochondrial function and prevent metabolic-dysfunction steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
The team found that microbiome-derived glycine lipids circulate systemically, enhancing mitochondrial function and potentially preventing the progression of MASLD. While lipids from bacteria are often associated with disease-causing processes, this study showed that these lipids act as immunosuppressive signals, reducing inflammation in atherosclerosis and liver inflammation. The researchers were surprised to discover that microbial glycine lipids had a protective effect on the liver, contrary to previous expectations.
To further investigate the impact of these lipids on MASLD, the researchers used a mouse model fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet. When administered with one of two microbial glycine lipids, L654 and L1256, the mice experienced significant attenuation of liver injury. The lipids were found to enhance the expression of genes controlling mitochondrial biogenesis and fat oxidation, which helped protect against the progression of MASLD. Depletion of exposure to these lipids, however, enhanced inflammation and worsened the disease.
The study also revealed that fiber, specifically pea fiber and citrus peel fiber, is a key driver of differences in microbial glycine lipid levels between healthy and Western-type diets. By administering a high-fiber diet to the mice, the researchers observed an increase in glycine lipid levels, suggesting a promising nutrition-based approach for reversing liver inflammation.
The Blesso lab is now exploring the benefits of different types of fiber and conducting a human fiber intervention study to examine the effects of fiber supplementation on glycine levels. Additionally, the researchers are investigating how these microbial glycine lipids are absorbed and circulated throughout the body, finding that they can travel via both the liver through the portal vein and throughout the body via the lymphatic system.
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