Interactions between Host PPARs and Gut Microbiota in Health and Disease

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology
• Physiology

Background:

• The human gut hosts diverse microbiota (bacteria, viruses, fungi) crucial for health.
• Microbiota dysregulation impacts gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease) and systemic conditions (e.g., non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis).
• Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are key regulators in metabolic and inflammatory pathways relevant to these diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the intricate interplay between host PPARs across various organs and the gut microbiota.
• To elucidate the role of PPARs in mediating host-microbiota interactions in health and disease.
• To highlight PPARs as potential therapeutic targets for microbiota-associated pathologies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing current research on host-microbiota-PPAR interactions.
• Analysis of studies investigating PPAR signaling in different organs (gut, liver, adipose tissue, heart).
• Integration of findings on how microbial metabolites influence PPAR activity and host physiology.

Main Results:

• PPARs are critical mediators in the gut-liver axis, influencing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
• Host PPARs regulate adipogenesis and lipid metabolism in visceral adipose tissue, affected by microbiota.
• PPARs play a role in cardiovascular health by modulating inflammation in atherosclerosis, influenced by gut microbes.

Conclusions:

• Host-microbiota interactions, modulated by PPARs, are fundamental to maintaining systemic homeostasis.
• Dysfunctional PPAR signaling in concert with gut dysbiosis contributes to the pathogenesis of various non-communicable diseases.
• Targeting PPARs offers a promising strategy for therapeutic interventions in microbiota-related diseases.