Study of the interaction among intestinal microbiota, host metabolism and inflammation: the role of the G protein associated receptors in the interaction through metabolites

ROMANIN, D

Buenos Aires

Conferencia; Humboldt Colloquium ?Shaping the Future of German-Argentinian Scientific Cooperation ? The Role of Curiosity-Driven Research?; 2018

Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung

Study of the interaction among intestinal microbiota, host metabolism and inflammation: the role of the G protein associated receptors in the interaction through metabolitesThe intestine (and mucosae in general) of mammals is one of the most complex ecosystems that can be found; hundreds of bacterial species, pathogens or commensals, coexist in an environment that is constantly changing because of the diet composition, or other random events such as infections, antibiotic treatments, etc. Intestinal epithelial cells are exposed to the metabolites produced by the commensal microorganisms. The relevance of the interaction can be seen for example when, metabolites produced by the microbiota are utilized by the epithelial cells as fuel (in the case of short chain fatty acids [SCFAs], acetate, propionate and lactate among others) or when the microbiota produces biotin, Vitamin B12, folic acid, among others molecules that are essential for the development.It has been also described that microbiota composition plays an important role in inflammatory related diseases, including, but not limited to obesity, inflammatory bowel diseases (such as Chron´s disease and ulcerative colitis), arthritis, etc. However, the mechanisms by which microbiota interact with the host cells and shapes the immunological responses, are still relatively unexplored. G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent one of the largest families of receptors in mammals. Traditionally recognized as hormone or neurotransmitters receptors, in recent years the evidence that GPCRs recognize metabolites such as SCFAs is accumulating. In our current project, we are exploring the role of GPRCs in the Host-microbiota interaction in conditions of homeostasis and inflammation, with particular focus on intestinal inflammation, obesity and aging. We are also interested in the changes of microbiota composition during the inflammatory events and the possibility of manipulating the inflammation by means of probiotic microorganisms administration.