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Enterococcus faecalis from newborn babies regulate endogenous PPARgamma activity and IL-10 levels in colonic

Alexandra Are1, Linda Aronsson, Shugui Wang

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|February 1, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Commensal bacteria like Enterococcus faecalis regulate gut development by activating nuclear receptors. This bacterial interaction enhances DNA binding and gene activation, crucial for immune function and gut homeostasis.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Postembryonic development of the gastrointestinal tract is influenced by gut microbiota.
  • Commensal bacteria interact with host cells to regulate maturation processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Enterococcus faecalis in regulating nuclear receptor activity in the colon.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which bacteria influence host gene expression.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized colonic cell lines and primary colonic cells.
  • Analyzed the phosphorylation and DNA binding activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma1 (PPARgamma1).
  • Assessed the transcriptional activation of downstream target genes, including IL-10.

Main Results:

  • Enterococcus faecalis regulates PPARgamma1 activity via phosphorylation in colonic cells.
  • This leads to increased DNA binding and transcriptional activation of genes like IL-10.
  • Phospho-PPARgamma1 is rapidly degraded, suggesting tight regulation of transactivation.

Conclusions:

  • Microflora-driven regulation of PPARgamma1 is important for gut homeostasis.
  • Bacterial interactions with nuclear receptors play a key role in gastrointestinal development and immune modulation.

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