Metabolic Syndrome and Altered Gut Microbiota in Mice Lacking Toll-Like Receptor 5

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Matam Vijay-Kumar, Emory University; Jesse D. Aitken, Emory University; Frederic A. Carvalho, Emory University; Tyler C. Cullender, Cornell University; Simon Mwangi, Emory University; Shanthi Srinivasan, Emory University; Shanthi Sitaraman, Emory University; Rob Knight, University of Colorado; Ruth E. Ley, Cornell University; Andrew Gewirtz, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2010-04-09
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2010, American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1179721
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Science
• ISSN: 0036-8075
• Volume: 328
• Issue: 5975
• Start Page: 228
• End Page: 231
• Grant/Funding Information: None declared
• Keywords: OBESITY; IMMUNITY; Multidisciplinary Sciences; COLITIS; Science & Technology - Other Topics; INFLAMMATION; Science & Technology; INNATE
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Immunology; Biology, Microbiology; Health Sciences, Pathology

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is a group of obesity-related metabolic abnormalities that increase an individual's risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Mere, we show that mice genetically deficient in Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5), a component of the innate immune system that is expressed in the gut mucosa and that helps defend against infection, exhibit hyperphagia and develop hallmark features of metabolic syndrome, including hyperlipidemia, hypertension, insulin resistance, and increased adiposity. These metabolic changes correlated with changes in the composition of the gut microbiota, and transfer of the gut microbiota from TLR5-deficient mice to wild-type germ-free mice conferred many features of metabolic syndrome to the recipients. Food restriction prevented obesity, but not insulin resistance, in the TLR5-deficient mice. These results support the emerging view that the gut microbiota contributes to metabolic disease and suggest that malfunction of the innate immune system may promote the development of metabolic syndrome.