Exercise improves endothelial progenitor cell's function in mice with Type 2 diabetes via gut microbiota modulation

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Endocrinology
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Exercise enhances endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) migration and tube formation.
• The precise mechanisms by which exercise improves EPC function remain unclear, particularly in the context of type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of gut microbiota in mediating exercise-induced improvements in EPC function in type 2 diabetic mice.
• To assess the impact of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on GLP-1 secretion, metabolic parameters, and EPC function.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 8-week exercise interventions (aerobic, resistance, combined) in type 2 diabetic mice.
• Performed FMT from exercise-conditioned mice to recipient mice.
• Evaluated changes in glucose, body weight, GLP-1 levels, gut microbiota composition, and EPC proliferation/migration.

Main Results:

• Exercise altered gut microbial composition, enriching beneficial bacteria like Prevotellaceae and Ligilactobacillus.
• FMT significantly increased plasma GLP-1 levels and enhanced EPC proliferation and migration.
• FMT amplified exercise-induced metabolic benefits, including significant reductions in body weight and blood glucose.

Conclusions:

• Exercise improves EPC function in diabetic mice primarily through gut microbiota modulation.
• FMT synergistically enhances GLP-1 secretion and EPC function, offering a potential therapeutic strategy.
• Specific gut microbes (Prevotellaceae, Ligilactobacillus, Akkermansia) are identified as potential therapeutic targets for T2DM and its cardiovascular complications.