Journal Article

In vitro co-metabolism of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) by the mucin-degrading bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila

Seviour, Robert, Kong, Yunhong, Jiang, Mingxin, Zhang, Xuxiang, Zhang, Yuyu, Xia, Yun, Wang, Yinfeng, Zhang, Hongbo

2021

Overview

Akkermansia muciniphila is a Gram-negative bacterium that resides within the gut mucus layer, and plays an important role in promoting gut barrier integrity, modulating the immune response and inhibiting gut inflammation. Growth stimulation of A . muciniphila by polyphenols including epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) from difference sources is well-documented. However, no published in vitro culture data on utilization of polyphenols by A . muciniphila are available, and the mechanism of growth-stimulating prebiotic effect of polyphenols on it remains unclear. Here in vitro culture studies have been carried out on the metabolism of EGCG by A . muciniphila in the presence of either mucin or glucose. We found that A . muciniphila did not metabolize EGCG alone but could co-metabolize it together with both these substrates in the presence of mineral salts and amino acids for mucin and protein sources for glucose. Our metabolomic data show that A . muciniphila converts EGCG to gallic acid, epigallocatechin, and (-)-epicatechin through ester hydrolysis. The (-)-epicatechin formed is then further converted to hydroxyhydroquinone. Co-metabolism of A . muciniphila of EGCG together with either mucin or glucose promoted substantially its growth, which serves as a further demonstration of the growth-promoting effect of polyphenols on A . muciniphila and provides an important addition to the currently available proposed mechanisms of polyphenolic prebiotic effects on A . muciniphila .

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Acids / Akkermansia - growth & development / Akkermansia - metabolism / Akkermansia muciniphila / Alzheimer's disease / Amino acids / Analysis / Bacteria / Biology and Life Sciences / Carbon / Catechin / Catechin - analogs & derivatives / Catechin - metabolism / Diabetes / Epicatechin / Epigallocatechin gallate / Gallic acid / Glucose / Glucose - metabolism / Gram-negative bacteria / Health aspects / Immune response / In Vitro Techniques / Life sciences / Medicine and Health Sciences / Metabolic disorders / Metabolism / Metabolome / Metabolomics / Microbiota / Mucin / Mucins - metabolism / Mucus / Physical Sciences / Polyphenols / Protein sources / Salts / Substrates / Trace elements