Metabolism of gut microbiota regulates epigenetic events in host tissues

Identifier:  TDX:4689

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX4689

Authors:  Miró Blanch, Joan

Abstract:
How the gut microbiota and its host communicate and react together to environmental stimuli helps us understand the mammalian holobiont. Both produce metabolites that can regulate and limit epigenetic marks in the host. Using a germ-free mouse model, including males and females, we investigated how biological sex and microbiota status influenced this communication. We have focused on the liver as target tissue. Our results show the interaction of sex and microbiota in controlling the levels of DNA methylation in an additive manner. Where males are hypomethylated compared to females, and presence of microbiota accentuates this pattern. Males without microbiota present a feminised pattern of gene expression. We have observed a link between the levels of host DNA methylation, and the Ruminococcaceae family, and we propose them as a key ecological player in the holobiont. Influencing host gene regulation in a sex-dependent manner, through the modulation of host DNA methylation levels.