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Updated: Jul 31, 2025

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The propionate-GPR41 axis in infancy protects from subsequent bronchial asthma onset

Takashi Ito1, Yumiko Nakanishi1, Ryohei Shibata1,2

  • 1Laboratory for Intestinal Ecosystem, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.

Gut Microbes
|May 3, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Propionate from breast milk can reduce childhood asthma by impacting airway inflammation. Lower fecal propionate levels in infants are linked to later asthma development.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiome research
  • Immunology
  • Pediatric allergy

Background:

  • Gut microbiota metabolites, like propionate, are implicated in disease pathogenesis.
  • The role of intestinal propionate in pediatric bronchial asthma remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of intestinal propionate during lactation on pediatric bronchial asthma development.
  • To identify the mechanisms and receptors involved in propionate's effect on asthma.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a murine house dust mite-induced asthma model.
  • Administered propionate via breast milk during lactation.
  • Conducted translational studies on a human birth cohort, analyzing fecal propionate levels.

Main Results:

  • Propionate intake significantly reduced airway inflammation in a murine asthma model.
  • G-protein coupled receptor 41 (GPR41) was identified as the propionate receptor mediating this suppression.
  • Lower fecal propionate levels were observed in infants who later developed bronchial asthma.

Conclusions:

  • Intestinal propionate during lactation plays a protective role against pediatric bronchial asthma.
  • Propionate may prevent asthma pathogenesis by regulating immune function, potentially via GPR41 and Toll-like receptors.
  • Findings highlight propionate as a potential therapeutic target for preventing childhood asthma.

Keywords:
Bronchial asthmaGPR41ScfasTlrsallergic diseasehuman birth cohortlactation periodmicrobiotapropionate

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