Exocrine Pancreatic Function Modulates Plasma Metabolites Through Changes in Gut Microbiota Composition.

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Metabolomics
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Exocrine pancreatic function is crucial for digestion and gut microbiota regulation.
• Pancreatic dysfunction significantly impacts human metabolism.
• The precise connection between pancreatic function, gut microbiota, and metabolism remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how exocrine pancreatic function influences host metabolism through the modulation of gut microbiota.
• To elucidate the mediating role of the gut microbiota in the metabolic consequences of exocrine pancreatic dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of fecal samples from 2226 participants in the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP/SHIP-TREND).
• Assessment of exocrine pancreatic function using pancreatic elastase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
• Characterization of intestinal microbiota profiles via 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene sequencing.
• Determination of plasma metabolite levels using mass spectrometry.

Main Results:

• Exocrine pancreatic function correlated with alterations in the abundance of 28 microbial taxa.
• Significant associations were found between pancreatic function and 16 plasma metabolites.
• Mediation pathway analysis indicated that gut microbiota changes significantly mediate the impact of exocrine pancreatic function on the blood metabolome, particularly affecting circulating serotonin and lysophosphatidylcholines.

Conclusions:

• The exocrine pancreas influences host metabolism by altering gut microbiota composition.
• Microbial-derived metabolites in the blood are key mediators in this process.
• Understanding this link is crucial for addressing metabolic changes associated with exocrine pancreatic dysfunction.