Heat Stress Alters the Intestinal Microbiota and Metabolomic Profiles in Mice

Abstract

BackgroundHeat stress has negative effects on the intestinal health of humans and animals. However, the impact of heat stress on intestinal microbial and metabolic changes remains elusive. Here, we investigated the cecal microbial and metabolic profiles in mice in response to heat stress.MethodsThe mouse heat stress model was constructed by simulating a high-temperature environment. Twenty mice were randomly assigned to two groups, the control group (CON, 25°C) and the heat treatment group (HS, 40°C from 13:00 to 15:00 every day for 7 days). Serum and cecal contents were collected from the mice for serum biochemical analysis, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, and non-targeted metabolomics.ResultsBoth core body temperature and water intake were significantly increased in the HS group. Serum biochemical indicators were also affected, including significantly increased triglyceride and decreased low-density lipoprotein in the heat stress group. The composition and structure of intestinal microbiota were remarkably altered in the HS group. At the species level, the relative abundance of Candidatus Arthromitus sp. SFB-mouse-Japan and Lactobacillus murinus significantly reduced, while that of Lachnospiraceae bacterium 3-1 obviously increased after HS. Metabolomic analysis of the cecal contents clearly distinguished metabolite changes between the groups. The significantly different metabolites identified were mainly involved in the fatty acid synthesis, purine metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, cyanoamino acid metabolism, glyceride metabolism, and plasmalogen synthesis.ConclusionIn summary, high temperature disrupted the homeostatic balance of the intestinal microbiota in mice and also induced significant alterations in intestinal metabolites. This study provides a basis for treating intestinal disorders caused by elevated temperature in humans and animals and can further formulate nutritional countermeasures to reduce heat stress-induced damage.

Alteration of Gut Microbiome and Correlated Amino Acid Metabolism Contribute to Hyperuricemia and Th17-Driven Inflammation in Uox-KO Mice

“…Several transporters promoting UA secretion have been identified in the intestine (6). Gut microbiota and its metabolites have been proven to directly or indirectly participate in the metabolism of purine and UA (7)(8)(9). The complex interactions between intestinal microbiota and the host provide crucial insight into the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases including gout (5,10).…”

Heat Stress Affects Faecal Microbial and Metabolic Alterations of Rabbits

“…Metabonomics is a technique for identifying and quantifying all metabolites present in biological samples. At present, Tang et al (2021) used non-targeted metabonomics to reveal the intestinal pathogenesis and self-healing of rabbits without antibiotic diet, He et al (2019a) used fecal metabonomics technology to explore the metabolic changes of heat stress in late pregnancy of primiparous sows, and Wen et al (2021) used metabonomics technology to explore the metabolic changes of heat stress on cecal contents of mice. However, the research on the relationship between heat stress and rabbit intestinal microbial ecosystem and its metabolites is still limited.…”

Microbiota-gut-brain axis and nutritional strategy under heat stress

“…After 14 d of heat stress treatment, opportunistic pathogens such as Campylobacterales , Veillonellaceae , and Megasphaera substantially increase ( Hu et al., 2020 ). On the other hand, we also found some probiotics, such as segmented filamentous bacteria and L. murinus , were diminished in heat stressed mice ( Wen et al., 2021 ). After applying fecal microbiota transplantation from heat-stressed pigs to mice, it was found that Bacteroides was significantly reduced while Akkermansia was significantly augmented ( Hu et al., 2020 ).…”

“…The high temperature environment alters microbiota metabolism. The ambient environment mainly affects the homeostasis of carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acid metabolism in microbiota ( Chen et al., 2018 ; Cui et al., 2019 ; Tian et al., 2015 ; Wen et al., 2021 ; Zhong et al., 2019 ; Zhu et al., 2019 ), resulting in a higher expression of the environmental adaptation signaling pathway and immune-related pathway ( Chen et al., 2018 ). Different microbiota in spring and summer were mainly concentrated in the functions associated with infectious diseases, immune system diseases, and lipid metabolism in dairy cows ( Li et al., 2020 ).…”

“…The relative percentages of Candidatus Arthromitus sp. SFB-mouse-Japan and Lactobacillus murinus were significantly reduced and some anti-inflammatory component such as salicin were increased in cecum after heat stress ( Wen et al., 2021 ). The plastic entity of the intestinal microbiota guarantees an rapid adaptation of the host in response to environmental changes ( Candela et al., 2012 ).…”