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Bile acid toxicity in Paneth cells contributes to gut dysbiosis induced by high-fat feeding
Hui Zhou, Shi-Yi Zhou, Merritt Gillilland III, Ji-Yao Li, Allen Lee, Jun Gao, Guanpo Zhang, Xianjun Xu, Chung Owyang
Hui Zhou, Shi-Yi Zhou, Merritt Gillilland III, Ji-Yao Li, Allen Lee, Jun Gao, Guanpo Zhang, Xianjun Xu, Chung Owyang
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Research Article Gastroenterology

Bile acid toxicity in Paneth cells contributes to gut dysbiosis induced by high-fat feeding

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Abstract

High-fat feeding (HFF) leads to gut dysbiosis through unclear mechanisms. We hypothesize that bile acids secreted in response to high-fat diets (HFDs) may act on intestinal Paneth cells, leading to gut dysbiosis. We found that HFF resulted in widespread taxonomic shifts in the bacteria of the ileal mucosa, characterized by depletion of Lactobacillus and enrichment of Akkermansia muciniphila, Clostridium XIVa, Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospiraceae, which were prevented by the bile acid binder cholestyramine. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization studies showed that G protein–coupled bile acid receptor (TGR5) expressed in Paneth cells was upregulated in the rats fed HFD or normal chow supplemented with cholic acid. This was accompanied by decreased lysozyme+ Paneth cells and α-defensin 5 and 6 and increased expression of XBP-1. Pretreatment with ER stress inhibitor 4PBA or with cholestyramine prevented these changes. Ileal explants incubated with deoxycholic acid or cholic acid caused a decrease in α-defensin 5 and 6 and an increase in XBP-1, which was prevented by TGR5 antibody or 4PBA. In conclusion, this is the first demonstration to our knowledge that TGR5 is expressed in Paneth cells. HFF resulted in increased bile acid secretion and upregulation of TGR5 expression in Paneth cells. Bile acid toxicity in Paneth cells contributes to gut dysbiosis induced by HFF.

Authors

Hui Zhou, Shi-Yi Zhou, Merritt Gillilland III, Ji-Yao Li, Allen Lee, Jun Gao, Guanpo Zhang, Xianjun Xu, Chung Owyang

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Figure 2

HFD induces a decrease in Paneth cells and antimicrobial peptide prevented by cofeeding with cholestyramine.

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HFD induces a decrease in Paneth cells and antimicrobial peptide prevent...
(A) HFD induced a reduction in lysozyme+ Paneth cells (n = 6, P = 0.055) as well as lysozyme+TGR5+ Paneth cell expression (n = 6) in the crypts. Administration of cholestyramine prevented this decrease in lysozyme+ Paneth cells (n = 6). Concurrent oral cholic acid also induced a significant decrease in both lysozyme+ Paneth cells or lysozyme+TGR5+Paneth cell (n = 5–6). (B) HFD causes a decrease in Paneth cell secretory granules. Transmission electron micrograph of small intestinal Paneth cells showed a 34% and 53% decrease in Paneth cell secretory granules (white arrowhead) from rats fed a HFD and cholic acid diet, respectively (n = 6, **P < 0.01). An increase in percentage of secretory granules with vacuoles (white arrow) was also observed in Paneth cell from rats fed a HFD, which was prevented by cofeeding with cholestyramine (n = 6). A similar increase in vacuoles was observed in rats given cholic acid (n = 6). Scale bar: 5 μm. (C) Reduction in gene expression of α-defensin 5 (Defa5) and 6 (Defa6) in rats given a HFD. A 68% and 67% decrease in gene expression of Defa5 and Defa6, respectively, in the crypts of ileum in rats fed a HFD (n = 5). These decreases in Defa5 and Defa6 gene expression were prevented by concurrent oral feeding with cholestyramine (n = 5). CHO, cholestyramine. All data are shown as mean ± SEM. P values were determined by 1-way ANOVA. **P < 0.01.

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