We highlight how the gut microbiota can regulate gene expression in the intestine, liver, and muscle

What is it about?

The human gut is colonized by commensal microorganisms, predominately bacteria that have coevolved in symbiosis with their host. In healthy individuals, feeding timing and type of food can influence not only the composition but also the circadian oscillation of the gut microbiota. Microbe-derived metabolites influence many aspects of host physiology, including energy metabolism and circadian rhythm. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a group of ligand-activated transcription factors that regulate various metabolic processes such as fatty acid metabolism. PPAR expression in various organs oscillates diurnally, and studies have shown that the gut microbiota can influence PPAR activities in various metabolic organs. For example, short-chain fatty acids, the most abundant type of metabolites produced by anaerobic fermentation of dietary fibers by the gut microbiota, are PPAR agonists.We highlight how the gut microbiota can regulate PPARs in key metabolic organs, namely, in the intestines, liver, and muscle. Knowing that the gut microbiota impacts metabolism and is altered in individuals with metabolic diseases might allow treatment of these patients using noninvasive procedures such as gut microbiota manipulation.

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Why is it important?

Knowing how the gut microbiota impacts metabolism and how it is altered in individuals with metabolic diseases might allow treatment of these patients using noninvasive procedures such as gut microbiota manipulation.

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