Bile Acids in Control of the Gut-Liver-Axis

2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (01) ◽  
pp. 63-68
Author(s):  
Benedikt Hild ◽  
Hauke S. Heinzow ◽  
Hartmut H. Schmidt ◽  
Miriam Maschmeier

AbstractThe liver and gut share an intimate relationship whose communication relies heavily on metabolites, among which bile acids play a major role. Beyond their function as emulsifiers, bile acids have been recognized for their influence on metabolism of glucose and lipids as well as for their impact on immune responses. Therefore, changes to the composition of the bile acid pool can be consequential to liver and to gut physiology. By metabolizing primary bile acids to secondary bile acids, the bacterial gut microbiome modifies how bile acids exert influence. An altered ratio of secondary to primary bile acids is found to be substantial in many studies. Thus, disease pathogenesis and progression could be changed by gut microbiome modification which influences the bile acid pool.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Promi Das ◽  
Simonas Marcišauskas ◽  
Boyang Ji ◽  
Jens Nielsen

Abstract Background: In the biochemical milieu of human colon, bile acids act as signaling mediators between the host and its gut microbiota. Biotransformation of primary to secondary bile acids have been known to be involved in the immune regulation of human physiology. Several 16S amplicon-based studies with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) subjects were found to have an association with the level of fecal bile acids. However, a detailed investigation of all the bile salt biotransformation genes in the gut microbiome of healthy and IBD subjects has not been performed. Results: Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of the bile salt biotransformation genes and their distribution at the phyla level. Based on the analysis of shotgun metagenomes, we found that the IBD subjects harbored a significantly lower abundance of these genes compared to the healthy controls. Majority of these genes originated from Firmicutes in comparison to other phyla. From metabolomics data, we found that the IBD subjects were measured with a significantly low level of secondary bile acids and high levels of primary bile acids compared to that of the healthy controls. Conclusions: Our bioinformatics-driven approach of identifying bile salt biotransformation genes predicts the bile salt biotransformation potential in the gut microbiota of IBD subjects. The functional level of dysbiosis likely contributes to the variation in the bile acid pool. This study sets the stage to envisage potential solutions to modulate the gut microbiome with the objective to restore the bile acid pool in the gut.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Promi Das ◽  
Simonas Marcišauskas ◽  
Boyang Ji ◽  
Jens Nielsen

Abstract Background: In the biochemical milieu of human colon, bile acids act as signaling mediators between the host and its gut microbiota. Biotransformation of primary to secondary bile acids have been known to be involved in the immune regulation of human physiology. Several 16S amplicon-based studies with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) subjects were found to have an association with the level of fecal bile acids. However, a detailed investigation of all the bile acid biotransformation genes involved in the secondary bile acid metabolism has not been performed. Results: Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of the bile acid biotransformation genes and their distribution at the phyla level. Based on the analysis of shotgun metagenomes, we found that the IBD subjects harbored a significantly lower abundance of these genes compared to the healthy controls. Majority of these genes originated from Firmicutes in comparison to other phyla. From metabolomics data, we found that the IBD subjects were measured with a significantly low level of secondary bile acids and high levels of primary bile acids compared to that of the healthy controls. Conclusions: Our bioinformatics-driven approach of identifying bile acid biotransformation genes predicts the bile salt biotransformation potential in the gut microbiota of IBD subjects. The functional level of dysbiosis likely contributes to the variation in the bile acid pool. This study sets the stage to envisage potential solutions to modulate the gut microbiome with the objective to restore the bile acid pool in the gut.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Promi Das ◽  
Simonas Marcišauskas ◽  
Boyang Ji ◽  
Jens Nielsen

Abstract Background: In the biochemical milieu of human colon, bile acids act as signaling mediators between the host and its gut microbiota. Biotransformation of primary to secondary bile acids have been known to be involved in the immune regulation of human physiology. Several 16S amplicon-based studies with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) subjects were found to have an association with the level of fecal bile acids. However, a detailed investigation of all the bile salt biotransformation genes in the gut microbiome of healthy and IBD subjects has not been performed. Results: Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of the bile salt biotransformation genes and their distribution at the phyla level. Based on the analysis of shotgun metagenomes, we found that the IBD subjects harbored a significantly lower abundance of these genes compared to the healthy controls. Majority of these genes originated from Firmicutes in comparison to other phyla. From metabolomics data, we found that the IBD subjects were measured with a significantly low level of secondary bile acids and high levels of primary bile acids compared to that of the healthy controls. Conclusions: Our bioinformatics-driven approach of identifying bile salt biotransformation genes predicts the bile salt biotransformation potential in the gut microbiota of IBD subjects. The functional level of dysbiosis likely contributes to the variation in the bile acid pool. This study sets the stage to envisage potential solutions to modulate the gut microbiome with the objective to restore the bile acid pool in the gut.


Metabolites ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 242
Author(s):  
Véronique de Bruijn ◽  
Christina Behr ◽  
Saskia Sperber ◽  
Tilmann Walk ◽  
Philipp Ternes ◽  
...  

Various environmental factors can alter the gut microbiome’s composition and functionality, and modulate host health. In this study, the effects of oral and parenteral administration of two poorly bioavailable antibiotics (i.e., vancomycin and streptomycin) on male Wistar Crl/Wi(Han) rats for 28 days were compared to distinguish between microbiome-derived or -associated and systemic changes in the plasma metabolome. The resulting changes in the plasma metabolome were compared to the effects of a third reference compound, roxithromycin, which is readily bioavailable. A community analysis revealed that the oral administration of vancomycin and roxithromycin in particular leads to an altered microbial population. Antibiotic-induced changes depending on the administration routes were observed in plasma metabolite levels. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and hippuric acid (HA) were identified as key metabolites of microbiome modulation, with HA being the most sensitive. Even though large variations in the plasma bile acid pool between and within rats were observed, the change in microbiome community was observed to alter the composition of the bile acid pool, especially by an accumulation of taurine-conjugated primary bile acids. In-depth investigation of the relationship between microbiome variability and their functionality, with emphasis on the bile acid pool, will be necessary to better assess the potential adverseness of environmentally induced microbiome changes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (4) ◽  
pp. G1009-G1016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clavia Ruth Wooton-Kee ◽  
David E. Cohen ◽  
Mary Vore

Maximal bile acid secretory rates and expression of bile acid transporters in liver and ileum are increased in lactation, possibly to facilitate increased enterohepatic recirculation of bile acids. We determined changes in the size and composition of the bile acid pool and key enzymes of the bile acid synthetic pathway [cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1), sterol 27-hydroxylase (Cyp27a1), and sterol 12α-hydroxylase (Cyp8b1)] in lactating rats relative to female virgin controls. The bile acid pool increased 1.9 to 2.5-fold [postpartum (PP) days 10, 14, and 19–23], compared with controls. A 1.5-fold increase in cholic acids and a 14 to 20% decrease in muricholic acids in lactation significantly increased the hydrophobicity index. In contrast, the hepatic concentration of bile acids and small heterodimer partner mRNA were unchanged in lactation. A 2.8-fold increase in Cyp7a1 mRNA expression at 16 h (10 h of light) demonstrated a shift in the diurnal rhythm at day 10 PP; Cyp7a1 protein expression and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase activity were significantly increased at this time and remained elevated at day 14 PP but decreased to control levels by day 21 PP. There was an overall decrease in Cyp27a1 mRNA expression and a 20% decrease in Cyp27a1 protein expression, but there was no change in Cyp8b1 mRNA or protein expression at day 10 PP. The increase in Cyp7a1 expression PP provides a mechanism for the increase in the bile acid pool.


1985 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Folkert Kuipers ◽  
Rick Havinga ◽  
Roel J. Vonk

1. Sulphated glycolithocholic acid (SGLC) causes cholestasis in experimental animals, despite its sulphated form. In the present study, the cholestatic potency and the pharmacokinetics of SGLC were investigated in rats under two conditions: (a) in the presence of an intact circulating bile acid pool and (b) after exhaustion of the bile acid pool by 24 h of bile diversion. 2. Intravenous administration of SGLC (8 μmol/ 100 g body weight) to rats with an intact bile acid pool did not cause cholestasis. However, biliary phospholipid and cholesterol concentrations were reduced by 40% and 29% respectively during the first hour after administration. When the same dose of the bile acid was injected in rats with a 24 h biliary drainage, a complete cessation of bile production was observed within 1 h. Twelve hours after the onset of cholestasis, bile production gradually increased again, showed a marked overshoot, and reached control levels after 3 days. In the recovery phase, biliary phospholipid and cholesterol concentrations were greatly reduced. 3. The absence of endogenous bile acids did not change the hepatic clearance rate of a tracer dose of radiolabelled SGLC, but markedly decreased its biliary excretion rate. 4. It was concluded that the hepatotoxic effect of SGLC is much more pronounced in rats with an exhausted bile acid pool, possibly due to a slower biliary excretion of the toxic compound. This phenomenon may have clinical implications for patients with a contracted bile acid pool.


2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (1) ◽  
pp. G144-G151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie T. Burke ◽  
Paul S. Horn ◽  
Patrick Tso ◽  
James E. Heubi ◽  
Laura A. Woollett

Intraluminal concentrations of bile acids are low in newborn infants and increase rapidly after birth, at least partly owing to increased bile acid synthesis rates. The expansion of the bile acid pool is critical since bile acids are required to stimulate bile flow and absorb lipids, a major component of newborn diets. The purpose of the present studies was to determine the mechanism responsible for the increase in bile acid synthesis rates and the subsequent enlargement of bile acid pool sizes (BAPS) during the neonatal period, and how changes in circulating hormone levels might affect BAPS. In the hamster, pool size was low just after birth and increased modestly until 10.5 days postpartum (dpp). BAPS increased more significantly (∼3-fold) between 10.5 and 15.5 dpp. An increase in mRNA and protein levels of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1), the rate-limiting step in classical bile acid synthesis, immediately preceded an increase in BAPS. In contrast, levels of oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase (Cyp7b1), a key enzyme in bile acid synthesis by the alternative pathway, were relatively elevated by 1.5 dpp. farnesyl X receptor (FXR) and short heterodimeric partner (SHP) mRNA levels remained relatively constant at a time when Cyp7a1 levels increased. Finally, although simultaneous increases in circulating cortisol and Cyp7a1 levels occurred, precocious expression of Cyp7a1 could not be induced in neonatal hamsters with dexamethasone. Thus the significant increase in Cyp7a1 levels in neonatal hamsters is due to mechanisms independent of the FXR and SHP pathway and cortisol.


1983 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Jazrawi ◽  
R. M. Kupfer ◽  
C. Bridges ◽  
A. Joseph ◽  
T. C. Northfield

1. We have validated a scintiscanning method for measuring fasting-state gall-bladder (GB) filling in man. 99mTc-labelled diethyl phenylcarbamoylmethyliminodiacetate (Tc-HIDA) was given intravenously, and 90 min later GB and gut activity were measured by using two isosensitive rectilinear scanning heads (anterior and posterior). Studies with a phantom GB in vitro, and studies in man in vivo, showed that the maximum error due to differences in isotope depth was 8%, compared with 300% when only one head was used. 2. By combining this technique with measurement of biliary lipid concentrations of fasting-state GB bile obtained by nasoduodenal intubation and intravenous cholecystokinin infusion, we were able to measure for the first time the total mass of all three biliary lipids in the GB. GB bile samples obtained in this way were divided into three consecutive portions of equal size in order to assess GB mixing. Bile acid pool size was also measured by isotope dilution. 3. We studied 12 healthy non-obese men. Fasting-state GB filling over 90 min (mean ± sem) was 54 ±8%. Biliary lipid mass in GB was 4.9 ±0.5 mmol for bile acids (67 ± 5% of the total bile acid pool), 1.6 ±0.2 mmol for phospholipid and 0.5 ± 0.1 mmol for cholesterol. The three consecutive portions of fasting GB bile gave values of 1.05 ± 0.07, 1.05 ± 0.06 and 1.03 ±0.10 for cholesterol saturation index (SI) and 6.6 ±1.1, 7.4 ± 1.6 and 6.5 ± 1.0 for Tc-HIDA c.p.m. × 1000 per mmol of bile acids. 4. The SI of fasting-state GB bile was significantly correlated with fasting-state GB filling (r = 0.63; P < 0.05). It was also correlated with cholesterol mass in GB (r = 0.64; P < 0.05), but not with bile acid and phospholipid mass. 5. We conclude that: (a) valid measurements of GB filling can be made in man by a simple scintiscanning technique employing 99mTc-HIDA as a biliary marker; (b) biliary lipid mass can also be measured if GB bile is obtained; (c) SI in health is in part determined by the degree of fasting-state GB filling, and in part by cholesterol mass in GB; (d) fasting-state GB content is well mixed in health.


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