Bile acids drive the newborn's gut microbiota maturation

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Gastroenterology
• Metabolism

Background:

• The neonatal intestine is colonized by bacteria, forming a dynamic microbiota.
• While external factors influencing microbiota are known, internal host mechanisms are less understood.
• The liver transitions from hematopoiesis to metabolic and immune functions post-birth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how developing liver function and metabolism impact early intestinal microbiota.
• To explore endogenous, host-mediated mechanisms governing neonatal gut microbial colonization.

Main Methods:

• Characterized colonization dynamics and liver metabolism in murine gastrointestinal tracts.
• Employed metabolomic and microbial profiling.
• Utilized multivariate analysis for data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Identified significant age-dependent changes in both microbial and metabolic profiles.
• Bile acids were identified as key drivers of early intestinal microbiota maturation.
• Oral administration of specific bile acids (tauro-cholic acid, β-tauro-murocholic acid) accelerated postnatal microbiota development in mice.

Conclusions:

• Developing liver function and metabolism play a crucial role in shaping the neonatal gut microbiota.
• Bile acids are potent endogenous regulators of early intestinal microbial community structure and function.
• Targeting bile acid metabolism could be a strategy to modulate the developing gut microbiome.