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Absence of neurotensin attenuates intestinal dysbiosis and inflammation by maintaining Mmp7/α‐defensin axis in diet‐induced obese mice
Author(s) -
Li Jing,
Li Xian,
Song Jun,
Yan Baoxiang,
Rock Stephanie A.,
Jia Jianhang,
Liu Jinpeng,
Wang Chi,
Weiss Todd,
Weiss Heidi L.,
Gao Tianyan,
Alam Ashfaqul,
Evers B. Mark
Publication year - 2020
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/fj.201902374rr
Subject(s) - proinflammatory cytokine , neurotensin , defensin , gut flora , biology , inflammation , endocrinology , dysbiosis , firmicutes , medicine , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , neuropeptide , receptor , biochemistry , gene , 16s ribosomal rna
Abstract We previously reported that high levels of plasma neurotensin (NT), a gut hormone released from enteroendocrine cells of the small bowel, contribute to obesity and comorbid conditions. Gut microbiota has been implicated in the obesity development. Paneth cells are critical in maintaining gut microbiota composition and homeostasis by releasing antimicrobial proteins including α‐defensins. The purpose of our current study was to determine the possible role of NT in gut microbiota composition and α‐defensin gene expression associated with obesity. Here we show that the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B ratio) and intestinal proinflammatory cytokines is significantly increased in NT +/+ mice fed with a high‐fat diet (HFD) which were improved in NT‐deficient mice. HFD disrupted the intestinal Mmp7/α‐defensin axis, which was completely prevented in NT −/− mice. In addition, NT treatment inhibited DEFA5 expression and concurrent NF‐κB activity, which was blocked by a pan PKC inhibitor (Gö6983) or an inhibitor for atypical PKCs (CRT0066854). More importantly, the shRNA‐mediated knockdown of atypical PKCτ reversed NT‐attenuated DEFA5 expression and increased NF‐κB activity. NT contributes to the HFD‐induced disruption of gut microbiota composition and α‐defensin expression. PKCτ/λ plays a central role in NT‐mediated α‐defensin gene expression which might be mediated through the inhibition of NF‐κB signaling pathways in Paneth cells.