Extracellular Matrix and Oxidative Phosphorylation: Important Role in the Regulation of Hypothalamic Function by Gut
Xunzhong Qi1,2,3, Xiaogang Zhong3,4,5, Shaohua Xu3,4,6
1Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Background:
In previous studies, our team examined the gut microbiota of healthy individuals and depressed patients using fecal microbiota transplantation of germ-free (GF) mice. Our results showed that depression-like and anxiety-like behavioral phenotypes of host mice were increased, but the molecular mechanism by which gut microbiota regulate host behavioral phenotypes is still unclear.
Methods:
To investigate the molecular mechanism by which gut microbiota regulate host brain function, adult GF mice were colonized with fecal samples derived from healthy control (HC) individuals or patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Transcriptomic profiling of hypothalamus samples was performed to detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs). qRT-PCR was used for validation experiments.
Results:
Colonization germ-free (CGF) mice had 243 DEGs compared with GF mice. The most enriched KEGG pathways associated with upregulated genes were "protein digestion and absorption," "extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction," and "focal adhesion." MDD mice had 642 DEGs compared with HC mice. The most enriched KEGG pathways associated with upregulated genes in MDD mice were also "protein digestion and absorption," "ECM-receptor interaction," and "focal adhesion." Meanwhile, the most enriched KEGG pathway associated with downregulated genes in these mice was "oxidative phosphorylation," and genes related to this pathway were found to be highly correlated in PPI network analysis.
Conclusion:
In summary, our findings suggested that regulation of ECM is a key mechanism shared by different gut microbiota and that inhibition of energy metabolism in the hypothalamus by gut microbiota derived from MDD patients is a potential mechanism of behavioral regulation and depression.
Insights
Gut microbiota influence host behavior. Fecal microbiota transplantation from major depressive disorder (MDD) patients altered mouse hypothalamus gene expression, implicating extracellular matrix regulation and impaired energy metabolism in depression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Microbiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Previous studies linked gut microbiota to host behavior, but molecular mechanisms remain unclear.
- Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in germ-free (GF) mice showed increased depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which gut microbiota regulate host brain function.
- To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hypothalamus following FMT from healthy controls (HC) or major depressive disorder (MDD) patients.
Main Methods:
- Adult GF mice were colonized with fecal samples from HC or MDD individuals.
- Transcriptomic profiling of hypothalamus samples was performed to identify DEGs.
- Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was used for validation.
Main Results:
- Colonization with gut microbiota altered gene expression in GF mice.
- MDD microbiota significantly changed hypothalamic gene expression compared to HC microbiota.
- Enriched KEGG pathways included 'protein digestion and absorption,' 'ECM-receptor interaction,' and 'focal adhesion' in both CGF and MDD mice.
- Downregulated genes in MDD mice were enriched in 'oxidative phosphorylation,' suggesting impaired energy metabolism.
Conclusions:
- Extracellular matrix (ECM) regulation is a key mechanism shared by different gut microbiota.
- Gut microbiota from MDD patients may inhibit hypothalamic energy metabolism, contributing to behavioral regulation and depression.
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