Early life antibiotic exposure affects pancreatic islet development and metabolic regulation

Jiaying Li1, Kaiyuan Yang1, Tingting Ju1

  • 1Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada.

Scientific Reports
|February 3, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Early life antibiotic exposure in piglets programs later-life glucose metabolism and pancreatic development. This research highlights potential long-term health risks associated with childhood antibiotic use.

Area of Science:

  • Metabolic disease research
  • Microbiome and host-pathogen interactions
  • Pediatric health and development

Background:

  • Childhood antibiotic exposure is linked to increased metabolic disease risk.
  • Understanding this association is crucial for addressing the chronic disease epidemic.
  • Rodent models have limitations in mimicking human infant development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the mechanisms linking early antibiotic exposure to metabolic dysfunction.
  • To investigate the long-term effects of antibiotics on glucose metabolism and pancreatic development.
  • To utilize a swine model that better represents human infants.

Main Methods:

  • Administered antibiotics during early life in a swine model.
  • Assessed glucose metabolism five weeks after antibiotic withdrawal.
  • Analyzed gut microbiota, microbial metabolites, and gene expression in the pancreas.

Main Results:

  • Early antibiotic exposure altered glucose metabolism and pancreatic development.
  • Antibiotics caused transient changes in gut microbiota and metabolite production.
  • Long-term alterations in gene expression related to short-chain fatty acid signaling and pancreatic development were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Early life antibiotic exposure can have a programming effect on metabolic health.
  • These findings suggest a need for further investigation into the long-term consequences of childhood antibiotic use.
  • The swine model provides valuable insights into human infant responses.

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