Analysis of the gut microbiome and plasma short-chain fatty acid profiles in a spontaneous mouse model of metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Male Tsumura Suzuki obese diabetes (TSOD) mice spontaneously develop obesity and obesity-related metabolic syndrome. Gut dysbiosis, an imbalance of gut microbiota, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, but its mechanisms are unknown. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the main fermentation products of gut microbiota and a link between the gut microbiota and the host’s physiology. Here, we investigated a correlation among gut dysbiosis, SCFAs, and metabolic syndrome in TSOD mice. We detected enriched levels of Gram-positive bacteria and corresponding decreases in Gram-negative bacteria in 24-wk-old metabolic syndrome-affected TSOD mice compared with age-matched controls. The abundance of Bacteroidetes species decreased, the abundance of Firmicutes species increased, and nine genera of bacteria were altered in 24-wk-old TSOD mice. The total plasma SCFA level was significantly lower in the TSOD mice than in controls. The major plasma SCFA—acetate—decreased in TSOD mice, whereas propionate and butyrate increased. TSOD mice had no minor SCFAs (valerate and hexanoate) but normal mice did. We thus concluded that gut dysbiosis and consequent disruptions in plasma SCFA profiles occurred in metabolic syndrome-affected TSOD mice. We also propose that the TSOD mouse is a useful model to study gut dysbiosis, SCFAs, and metabolic syndrome.

Metabolically and immunologically beneficial impact of extra virgin olive and flaxseed oils on composition of gut microbiota in mice

“…These data are partly consistent with a previous report of Nishitsuji et al demonstrating that not only a trend to increase in the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (Fig. S6), but also the ratio was significantly lower in mice that develop obesity-diabetes syndrome [16]. Despite LF mice exhibiting less body weight gain than HF mice, the lower ratio observed in the LF group is likely the consequence of a low-fat purified diet being used, contributing to lower levels of acetate in particular.…”

“…This genus also was found to negatively correlate with plasma TG levels in a large, recent cohort study [34]. Moreover, in both HF-EVOO and HF-FO mice, a significant elevation of bacteria from Allobaculum and Coriobacteriaceae, which are associated with lean phenotype [16], was observed in comparison with HF mice. It should be noted that mice-fed HF-FO showed a significantly higher abundance of bacteria from the Unclassified clostridiales genera in comparison with LF, HF, and HF-EVOO.…”

“…Concentrations of butyrate were significantly lower in HF-FO mice compared to HF mice, although amounts of this SCFA were scarce. The ratio of acetate to butyrate plus propionate in plasma typically increased in lean subjects [16,17], was significantly lower in mice fed both HF and LF diets in comparison with mice-fed HF-EVOO and HF-FO. These data are partly consistent with a previous report of Nishitsuji et al demonstrating that not only a trend to increase in the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (Fig.…”

Progress and perspectives of short‐chain fatty acids in aquaculture

“…A recent study revealed that gut dysbiosis in Tsumura Suzuki obese diabetes (TSOD) mice leads to a reduction in total plasma SCFA levels, where acetate was decreased, with an increase in propionate and butyrate, while valerate and hexanoate were absent in the TSOD mice compared with controls (Nishitsuji et al . ). In aquatic animals such as Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) and Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ), supplementation with soybean‐derived protein (Ringø et al .…”

“…Furthermore, stress-stimulated microbiota dysbiosis may be a factor influencing the production of SCFA in the gut. A recent study revealed that gut dysbiosis in Tsumura Suzuki obese diabetes (TSOD) mice leads to a reduction in total plasma SCFA levels, where acetate was decreased, with an increase in propionate and butyrate, while valerate and hexanoate were absent in the TSOD mice compared with controls (Nishitsuji et al 2017). In aquatic animals such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), supplementation with soybean-derived protein (Ringø et al 2006;Green et al 2013) as well as in largemouth bronze gudgeon (Coreius guichenoti) and grass carp, which suffer from infections (Li et al 2016;Tran et al 2018), resulted in significant changes in gut microbiota.…”