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PCB126 Exposure Modulates Gut Microbial Fermentation of the Dietary Fiber Inulin
Author(s) -
Hoffman Jessie Baldwin,
Flythe Michael,
Hennig Bernhard
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.965.14
Subject(s) - propionate , inulin , fermentation , gut flora , food science , prebiotic , chemistry , microbial metabolism , butyrate , methanogenesis , metabolism , firmicutes , biology , bacteria , biochemistry , 16s ribosomal rna , gene , genetics
Exposure to environmental pollutants is associated with a greater risk for metabolic diseases including cardiovascular disease. Pollutant exposure can also alter gut microbial populations that may contribute to metabolic effects and progression of inflammatory diseases. Short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs), produced from gut microbial fermentation of dietary fibers such as inulin, exert numerous effects on host energy metabolism. SCFAs are also linked to health promoting effects, including a reduced risk of inflammatory diseases. We hypothesized that exposure to dioxin‐like pollutants modulate gut microbial fermentation processes. Fecal microbes from mice were harvested and resuspended in anaerobic media containing 4 or 10g/L of inulin with or without PCB126 (0.02μM, 0.2μM, or 2μM) and incubated for 48h (37 ° C). HPLC analysis revealed that PCB126 exposure differentially modulated the production of several SCFA, including succinate and propionate. Exposure to PCB126 at 0.2μM and 2μM reduced succinate production, while exposure to 2μM of PCB126 increased total fermentation acids, and in particular propionate production. Interestingly, increasing the fiber substrate source to 10g/L abolished all effects of PCB126 on SCFA production. It has been demonstrated that bacteria‐produced succinate contributes to metabolic benefits by acting as an intestinal gluconeogenic substrate. Furthermore, there is evidence that an excess propionate and total SCFA can contribute to increased energy harvest and hepatic lipogenesis. Increased consumption of dietary fiber intake is associated with improved metabolic outcomes and gut health. Thus, this evidence supports the idea that pollutant exposure may contribute to alterations in host metabolism through gut microbiota‐dependent mechanisms, and that an increased level of dietary fiber might be able to attenuate these responses. Support or Funding Information NIEHS/NIH grants P42ES007380 NIH Training Grant T32 DK007778.