Health and Environmental Illness Research Blog: intestinal bacteria

Friday, March 5, 2010

Intestinal bacteria drive obesity and metabolic disease in immune-altered mice

"Mice lacking a gene called TLR5 have an altered ability to recognize and control bacteria in their intestines, leading them to develop obesity and insulin resistance, which is often referred to as "pre-diabetes." The bacteria appear to influence appetite and metabolism rather than how well calories are absorbed. Obesity and insulin resistance can be transferred from TLR5-deficient mice via intestinal bacteria."
Intestinal bacteria drive obesity and metabolic disease in immune-altered mice

Notes:

GSK-3b regulates TLR production including TLR5. Studies have demonstrated that TLR signaling increases IL-10 which has an anti-inflammatory effect and inhibition of GSK-3b may be protective against endotoxic shock.
Changes in inflammatory cytokines may influence TLR functioning in mesenchymal stromal cells.

Martin, M., Rehani, K., Jope, R. S., and Michalek, S. M. (2005). Toll-like receptor-mediated cytokine production is differentially regulated by glycogen synthase kinase 3. Nature immunology, 6(8):777-784. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/260512
Abreu, M. T. (2010). Toll-like receptor signalling in the intestinal epithelium: how bacterial recognition shapes intestinal function. Nature Reviews Immunology, 10(2):131-144. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6589668
Palmer, Eric. Innate immune defense against intestinal bacteria. Videocast. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved on Monday March 1, 2010. http://videocast.nih.gov/ram/iig102109.ram