Gut Microbiota Orchestrates Energy Homeostasis during Cold

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Host-microbiota interactions
• Metabolic physiology

Background:

• Host physiology is intricately linked to microbiota composition due to co-evolution.
• Environmental factors like temperature can significantly influence the gut microbiota.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of cold exposure on gut microbiota composition.
• To determine the functional consequences of cold-induced microbiota shifts on host physiology, particularly energy homeostasis.

Main Methods:

• Cold exposure of mice.
• Fecal microbiota transplantation to germ-free mice.
• Assessment of host metabolic parameters, including insulin sensitivity and fat browning.
• Analysis of intestinal morphology and gene expression.
• Investigating the role of specific bacterial strains like Akkermansia muciniphila.

Main Results:

• Cold exposure induces a distinct gut microbiota composition ('cold microbiota').
• Transplantation of 'cold microbiota' improves insulin sensitivity, promotes white fat browning, increases energy expenditure, and facilitates cold tolerance.
• Prolonged cold exposure leads to adaptive increases in intestinal absorptive surface area, transferable via the 'cold microbiota'.
• Akkermansia muciniphila appears to modulate the effects of the 'cold microbiota' on intestinal remodeling and apoptosis.

Conclusions:

• The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in orchestrating host energy homeostasis in response to environmental challenges like cold.
• Cold-induced microbiota alterations can mediate significant physiological adaptations, including improved metabolic efficiency and energy expenditure.
• Specific microbial species within the cold-adapted microbiota have distinct roles in regulating host intestinal adaptation and energy balance.