Journal Article

Gut Microbiota from Twins Discordant for Obesity Modulate Metabolism in Mice

Muehlbauer, Michael J., Faith, Jeremiah J., Rey, Federico E., Knight, Rob, Walters, William A., Ridaura, Vanessa K., Martini, Margaret C., Henrissat, Bernard, Van Treuren, William, Cheng, Jiye, Duncan, Alexis E., Hayashi, David K., Ursell, Luke K., Griffin, Nicholas W., Kau, Andrew L., Bain, James R., Newgard, Christopher B., Funai, Katsuhiko, Ilkayeva, Olga, Heath, Andrew C., Clemente, Jose C., Lombard, Vincent, Gordon, Jeffrey I., Semenkovich, Clay F., Lyle, Barbara J.

2013

Overview

How much does the microbiota influence the host's phenotype? Ridaura et al. ( 1241214 ; see the Perspective by Walker and Parkhill ) obtained uncultured fecal microbiota from twin pairs discordant for body mass and transplanted them into adult germ-free mice. It was discovered that adiposity is transmissible from human to mouse and that it was associated with changes in serum levels of branched-chain amino acids. Moreover, obese-phenotype mice were invaded by members of the Bacteroidales from the lean mice, but, happily, the lean animals resisted invasion by the obese microbiota. Mice carrying gut bacteria from lean humans protect their cage mates from the effects of gut bacteria from fat humans. [Also see Perspective by Walker and Parkhill ] The role of specific gut microbes in shaping body composition remains unclear. We transplanted fecal microbiota from adult female twin pairs discordant for obesity into germ-free mice fed low-fat mouse chow, as well as diets representing different levels of saturated fat and fruit and vegetable consumption typical of the U.S. diet. Increased total body and fat mass, as well as obesity-associated metabolic phenotypes, were transmissible with uncultured fecal communities and with their corresponding fecal bacterial culture collections. Cohousing mice harboring an obese twin’s microbiota (Ob) with mice containing the lean co-twin’s microbiota (Ln) prevented the development of increased body mass and obesity-associated metabolic phenotypes in Ob cage mates. Rescue correlated with invasion of specific members of Bacteroidetes from the Ln microbiota into Ob microbiota and was diet-dependent. These findings reveal transmissible, rapid, and modifiable effects of diet-by-microbiota interactions.

• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science,The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subject: Adiposity / Adult / adults / Amino acids / Animals / Bacteroidales / Bacteroidetes - genetics / Bacteroidetes - physiology / blood serum / Body Composition / Body mass / Cecum - metabolism / Cecum - microbiology / Cohousing / Community Relations / Diet / Diet, Fat-Restricted / Fats / Feces - microbiology / Female / Fermentation / Fruits / Gastrointestinal Tract - microbiology / germ-free animals / Germ-Free Life / Humans / intestinal microorganisms / Lipid metabolism / Mass spectrometry / Metabolic disorders / Metabolism / Metabolome / Metagenome - genetics / Metagenome - physiology / Mice / Mice, Inbred C57BL / Mice, Obese / Microbiota / Obesity / Obesity - genetics / Obesity - metabolism / phenotype / Phenotypes / RESEARCH ARTICLE SUMMARY / Saccharides / Thinness - microbiology / Twins / Vegetables / Weight Gain / Young Adult