Project description:The purpose of this study was to elucidate potential effects of fxr mutation on the functional specification of intestinal epithelial cells. To do this, we sorted GFP-positive cells from TgBAC(cldn15la:GFP) transgenics of either fxr+/+ or fxr-/- fish larvae and subjected them to 10X Genomics single-cell RNA-seq. Our results uncovered the requirement of fxr in gene expression and differentiation among multiple intestinal epithelial cell types.
Project description:Obstruction of bile flow results in bacterial proliferation and mucosal injury in the small intestine that can lead to the translocation of bacteria across the epithelial barrier and systemic infection. These adverse effects of biliary obstruction can be inhibited by administration of bile acids. Here we show that the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a nuclear receptor for bile acids, induces genes involved in enteroprotection and inhibits bacterial overgrowth and mucosal injury in ileum caused by bile duct ligation. Mice lacking FXR have increased ileal levels of bacteria and a compromised epithelial barrier. These findings reveal a central role for FXR in protecting the distal small intestine from bacterial invasion and suggest that FXR agonists may prevent epithelial deterioration and bacterial translocation in patients with impaired bile flow. In this report we have examined the role of FXR in the ileum. We demonstrate that it plays a crucial role in preventing bacterial overgrowth and maintaining the integrity of the intestinal epithelium
Project description:Decreased bile secretion in rodents by either ligation of the common bile duct or induction of cirrhosis causes changes in the small intestine, including bacterial overgrowth and translocation across the mucosal barrier. Oral administration of bile acids inhibits these effects. The genes regulated by FXR in ileum suggested that it might contribute to the enteroprotective actions of bile acids. To test this hypothesis, mice were administered either GW4064 or vehicle for 2 days and then subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL) or sham operation. After 5 days, during which GW4064 or vehicle treatment was continued, the mice were killed and their intestines were analyzed for FXR target gene expression. Mice were treated with or without FXR ligand GW4064 for 2 days prior to bile duct ligation surgery and for 5 days after surgery. After 5 days the mice were sacrificed and the ileum collected and processed for gene expression analysis. Gene expression in the ilium from each sample group was assayed in duplicate using Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430A 2.0 Gene Chips.
Project description:Decreased bile secretion in rodents by either ligation of the common bile duct or induction of cirrhosis causes changes in the small intestine, including bacterial overgrowth and translocation across the mucosal barrier. Oral administration of bile acids inhibits these effects. The genes regulated by FXR in ileum suggested that it might contribute to the enteroprotective actions of bile acids. To test this hypothesis, mice were administered either GW4064 or vehicle for 2 days and then subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL) or sham operation. After 5 days, during which GW4064 or vehicle treatment was continued, the mice were killed and their intestines were analyzed for FXR target gene expression.
Project description:The nuclear receptor FXR acts as an intracellular bile salt sensor that regulates synthesis and transport of bile salts within their enterohepatic circulation. In addition, FXR is involved in control of a variety of crucial metabolic pathways. Four FXR splice variants are known, i.e. FXRα1-4. Although these isoforms show differences in spatial and temporal expression patterns as well as in transcriptional activity, the physiological relevance hereof has remained elusive. We have evaluated specific roles of hepatic FXRα2 and FXRα4 by stably expressing these isoforms using liver-specific self-complementary adeno-associated viral vectors in total body FXR knock-out mice. The hepatic gene expression profile of the FXR knock-out mice was largely normalized by both isoforms. Yet, differential effects were also apparent; FXRα2 was more effective in reducing elevated HDL levels and transrepressed hepatic expression of Cyp8B1, the regulator of cholate synthesis. The latter coincided with a switch in hydrophobicity of the bile salt pool. Furthermore, FXRα2-transduction caused an increased neutral sterol excretion compared to FXRα4 without affecting intestinal cholesterol absorption. Our data show, for the first time, that hepatic FXRα2 and FXRα4 differentially modulate bile salt and lipoprotein metabolism in mice.
Project description:The inter-organ cross talk between liver and intestine has been focus of intense research. Key in this cross-talk are bile acids, which are secreted from the liver into the intestine and, via the enterohepatic circulation, reach back to the liver. Important new insights have been gained in the Farnesoid X receptor (Fxr)-mediated communication from intestine-to-liver in health and disease. However, liver-to-intestine communication and the role of bile acids and FXR in this cross talk remain elusive. Here, we analyse Fxr-mediated liver-to-gut communication, and its consequences in the colon. Mice in which Fxr was selectively ablated in intestine (Fxr-intKO), the liver (Fxr-livKO), or in the full body (Fxr-totKO) were engineered. The effects on colonic gene expression (RNA sequencing), on the microbiome (16S rRNA Gene Sequencing) and on mucus barrier were analyzed. Compared to Fxr-intKO and Fxr-totKO mice, more genes were differentially expressed in the colons of Fxr-livKO mice relative to control mice (731, 1824 and 3272 respectively), suggestive of a strong role of hepatic Fxr in liver-to-gut communication. The colons of Fxr-livKO showed increased expression of anti-microbial genes, such as Regenerating islet-derived 3 beta and gamma (Reg3β and Reg3γ), Toll-like receptors (Tlrs), inflammasome related genes and differential expression of genes belonging to the ‘Mucin-type O-glycan biosynthesis’ pathway. Compared to control mice, Fxr-livKO mice have decreased levels of the predicted mucin degrading bacterium Turicibacter and a concomitant increase in the thickness of the inner sterile mucus layer. In conclusion, ablation of Fxr in the liver has a major effect on colonic gene expression, the gut microbiome and on the permeability of the mucus layer. This stresses the importance of the Fxr-mediated liver-to-gut signaling.
Project description:Specific bile acids are potent signaling molecules that modulate metabolic pathways affecting lipid, glucose and bile acid homeostasis, and the microbiota. Bile acids are synthesized from cholesterol in the liver, and the key enzymes involved in bile acid synthesis (Cyp7a1, Cyp8b1) are regulated transcriptionally by the nuclear receptor FXR. We have identified an FXR-regulated pathway upstream of a transcriptional repressor that controls multiple bile acid metabolism genes. We identify MafG as an FXR target gene and show that hepatic MAFG overexpression represses genes of the bile acid synthetic pathway and modifies the biliary bile acid composition. In contrast, loss-of-function studies using MafG(+/-) mice causes de-repression of the same genes with concordant changes in biliary bile acid levels. Finally, we identify functional MafG response elements in bile acid metabolism genes using ChIP-seq analysis. Our studies identify a molecular mechanism for the complex feedback regulation of bile acid synthesis controlled by FXR.
Project description:Unlike many other types of diarrheagenic bacteria that act primarily in the small intestine, O157:H7 expresses virulence primarily in the large intestine. In this study, microarray analysis is employed to examine the transcriptional response of O157:H7 to bile treatment, to gain insight into how bile affects virulence and whether bile might be temporally defending the small intestine against virulence by these bacteria. Keywords: Expression profiling of two different growth conditions Two groups of three replicates were used: E.coli O157:H7 grown in Luria broth with or without 0.8% bile salts
Project description:Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is highly effective in reversing obesity and associated diabetes. Recent observations in humans suggest a contributing role of increased circulating bile acids in mediating such effects. Here we use a diet-induced obesity mouse model and compared metabolic remission when bile flow was diverted through a gallbladder anastomosis to jejunum, ileum or duodenum (sham control). We found that only bile diversion to the ileum results in physiologic changes similar to RYGB including sustained improvements in weight, glucose tolerance and hepatic steatosis despite differential effects on hepatic gene expression. Circulating free fatty acids and triglycerides decrease while bile acids increase, particularly conjugated tauro-b-muricholic acid, an FXR antagonist. Activity of the hepatic FXR/FGF15 axis was reduced and associated with altered gut microbiota. Thus bile diversion, independent of surgical rearrangement of the gastrointestinal tract, imparts significant weight loss accompanied by improved glucose and lipid homeostasis that are hallmarks of RYGB. Total RNA from n = 5 DIO, n = 4 GB-IL, n = 5 RYGB mice livers was extracted of total RNA and submitted fro RNAseq