Synbiotics Bifidobacterium infantis and milk oligosaccharides are effective in reversing cancer-prone nonalcoholic steatohepatitis using western diet-fed FXR knockout mouse models

Immune landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma: From dysregulation of the immune responses to the potential immunotherapies

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a considerable global health burden due to its late diagnosis and high morbidity. The liver's specific anatomical and physiological features expose it to various antigens, requiring precise immune regulation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a comprehensive overview of the interactions between the immune system and gut microbiota in the development of HCC, as well as the relevant therapeutic approaches are discussed. Dysregulation of immune compartments within the liver microenvironment drives HCC pathogenesis, characterized by elevated regulatory cells such as regulatory T cells (Tregs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and M2 macrophages as well as suppressive molecules, alongside reduced number of effector cells like T cells, natural killer cells, and M1 macrophages. Dysbiosis of gut microbiota also contributes to HCC by disrupting intestinal barrier integrity and triggering overactivated immune responses. Immunotherapy approaches, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors, have exhibited promise in HCC management, yet adoptive cell therapy and cancer vaccination research are in the early steps with relatively less favorable outcomes. Further understanding of immune dysregulation, gut microbiota involvement, and therapeutic combination strategies are essential for advancing precision immunotherapy in HCC.

Immunobiotic Bacteria Attenuate Hepatic Fibrosis through the Modulation of Gut Microbiota and the Activation of Aryl-Hydrocarbon Receptors Pathway in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis Mice

SCOPE

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide that can progress to liver fibrosis (LF). Probiotics have beneficial roles in reducing intestinal inflammation and gut-associated diseases, but their effects and mechanisms beyond the gut in attenuating the progression of LF are remained unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a mouse model of NASH/LF induced by a methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet, immunobiotics are administered to investigate their therapeutic effects. Results show that the MCD diet leads to liver inflammation, steatosis, and fibrosis, which are alleviated by immunobiotics. Immunobiotics reduces serum endotoxin and inflammatory markers while increasing regulatory cytokines and liver weight. They also suppress Th17 cells, known for producing inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, immunobiotics mitigate collagen deposition and fibrogenic signaling in the liver, while restoring gut-barrier integrity and microbiota composition. Additionally, immunobiotics enhance the activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway in both colonic and liver tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, these results demonstrate a novel insight into the mechanisms through which immunobiotic administration improves the gut health which in turn increases the AhR pathway and inhibits HSCs activation and fibrosis progression beyond the gut in the liver tissue of NASH/LF mice.

Exploring the gut microbiota and its potential as a biomarker in gliomas

Gut microbiome alterations are associated with various cancers including brain tumours such as glioma and glioblastoma. The gut communicates with the brain via a bidirectional pathway known as the gut-brain axis (GBA) which is essential for maintaining homeostasis. The gut microbiota produces many metabolites including short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and essential amino acids such as glutamate, glutamine, arginine and tryptophan. Through the modulation of these metabolites the gut microbiome is able to regulate several functions of brain cells, immune cells and tumour cells including DNA methylation, mitochondrial function, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), T-cell proliferation, autophagy and even apoptosis. Here, we summarise current findings on gut microbiome with respect to brain cancers, an area of research that is widely overlooked. Several studies investigated the relationship between gut microbiota and brain tumours. However, it remains unclear whether the gut microbiome variation is a cause or product of cancer. Subsequently, a biomarker panel was constructed for use as a predictive, prognostic and diagnostic tool with respect to multiple cancers including glioma and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). This review further presents the intratumoural microbiome, a fascinating microenvironment within the tumour as a possible treatment target that can be manipulated to maximise effectiveness of treatment via personalised therapy. Studies utilising the microbiome as a biomarker and therapeutic strategy are necessary to accurately assess the effectiveness of the gut microbiome as a clinical tool with respect to brain cancers.

The role of bile acid receptor TGR5 in regulating inflammatory signalling

Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) is a bile acid receptor, and its role in regulating metabolism after binding with bile acids has been established. Since the immune response depends on metabolism to provide biomolecules and energy to cope with challenging conditions, emerging evidence reveals the regulatory effects of TGR5 on the immune response. An in-depth understanding of the effect of TGR5 on immune regulation can help us disentangle the interaction of metabolism and immune response, accelerating the development of TGR5 as a therapeutic target. Herein, we reviewed more than 200 articles published in the last 20 years in PubMed, to discuss the roles of TGR5 in regulating inflammatory response, the molecular mechanism, as well as existing problems. Particularly, its anti-inflammation effect is emphasized.

Targeting stroma and tumor, silencing galectin 1 treats orthotopic mouse hepatocellular carcinoma

This study examines inhibiting galectin 1 (Gal1) as a treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Gal1 has immunosuppressive and cancer-promoting roles. Our data showed that Gal1 was highly expressed in human and mouse HCC. The levels of Gal1 positively correlated with the stages of human HCC and negatively with survival. The roles of Gal1 in HCC were studied using overexpression (OE) or silencing using Igals1 siRNA delivered by AAV9. Prior to HCC initiation induced by RAS and AKT mutations, lgals1-OE and silencing had opposite impacts on tumor load. The treatment effect of lgals1 siRNA was further demonstrated by intersecting HCC at different time points when the tumor load had already reached 9% or even 42% of the body weight. Comparing spatial transcriptomic profiles of Gal1 silenced and OE HCC, inhibiting matrix formation and recognition of foreign antigen in CD45+ cell-enriched areas located at tumor-margin likely contributed to the anti-HCC effects of Gal1 silencing. Within the tumors, silencing Gal1 inhibited translational initiation, elongation, and termination. Furthermore, Gal1 silencing increased immune cells as well as expanded cytotoxic T cells within the tumor, and the anti-HCC effect of lgals1 siRNA was CD8-dependent. Overall, Gal1 silencing has a promising potential for HCC treatment.

Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis in Asians: Current Perspectives and Future Directions

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a subset of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which, apart from excess fat in the liver, may be characterised by some level of inflammatory infiltration and fibrogenesis, occasionally progressing to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The objective of the current review is to elucidate the rising prevalence, the role of microbiome and genetics in pathogenesis, diagnostic challenges, and novel treatment alternatives for NASH. Newer diagnostic techniques are being developed since using liver biopsy in a larger population is not a reasonable option and is primarily restricted to clinical research, at least in developing countries. Besides these technical challenges, another important factor leading to deviation from guideline practice is the lack of health insurance coverage in countries like India. It leads to reluctance on the part of physicians and patients to delay required tests to curb out-of-pocket expenditure. There is no cure for NASH, with liver transplantation remaining the last option for those who progress to end-stage liver disease (ESLD) or are detected with early-stage HCC. Thus, lifestyle modification remains the only viable option for many, but compliance and long-term adherence remain major challenges. In obese individuals, bariatric surgery and weight reduction have shown favourable results. In patients with less severe obesity, endoscopic bariatric metabolic therapies (EBMT) are rapidly emerging as less invasive therapies. However, access and acceptability remain poor for these weight reduction methods. Therefore, intense research is being conducted for potential newer drug classes with several agents currently in phase II or III of clinical development. Some of these have demonstrated promising results, such as a reduction in hepatic fat content, and attenuation of fibrosis with an acceptable tolerability profile in phase II studies. The developments in the management of NASH have been fairly encouraging. Further well-designed long-term prospective studies should be undertaken to generate evidence with definitive results.

Hepatic Transcriptomics Reveals Reduced Lipogenesis in High-Salt Diet Mice

It has been demonstrated that a high salt diet (HSD) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic dysfunction. In particular, the impact and molecular mechanisms of long-term HSD on hepatic metabolism remain largely unknown. To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) affecting the metabolism of liver tissues from HSD and control groups, a transcriptome analysis of liver tissues was performed in this study. As a result of the transcriptome analysis, the expression of genes related to lipid and steroid biosynthesis (such as Fasn, Scd1, and Cyp7a1) was significantly reduced in the livers of HSD mice. Additionally, several gene ontology (GO) terms have been identified as associated with metabolic processes in the liver, including the lipid metabolic process (GO: 0006629) and the steroid metabolic process (GO: 0008202). An additional quantitative RT-qPCR analysis was conducted to confirm six down-regulated genes and two up-regulated genes. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for further investigation of HSD-induced metabolic disorders.

Maternal procymidone exposure has lasting effects on murine gut-liver axis and glucolipid metabolism in offspring

There is increasing evidence that maternal exposure to environmental pollutants can cause intestinal and metabolic diseases, and these disease risks still exist in offspring. Here, female C57BL/6 mice were orally treated with procymidone (PRO) (10 and 100 mg/kg body weight/day) by dietary supplementation during the gestation and lactation periods. Then, we discovered PRO changed the physiology, intestinal barrier and metabolism both in the generations of F₀ and different developmental stages of F₁ (7 weeks and 30 weeks old, respectively). Maternal PRO exposure affected the growth phenotypes and the glucolipid metabolism related indicators and genes of mice, especially the male mice of F₁ generations. The changes in bile acids (BAs) metabolism demonstrated that PRO disordered glucolipid metabolism through enterohepatic circulation. Furthermore, PRO reduced mucus secretion in the gut and altered the composition of gut microbiota, leading more bacteria to disseminate in the gut and inflammatory responses both in F₀ and F₁ regenerations. And PRO-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis was tightly related to BAs metabolites. Together, the results indicated that PRO destructed the functional integrity of intestinal barrier and the inflammatory reaction was triggered. And then, the disorder of glucolipid metabolism was induced through the BAs enterohepatic circulation. This study indicated that the cross-generation effects of PRO could not be ignored.

Translating neonatal microbiome science into commercial innovation: metabolism of human milk oligosaccharides as a basis for probiotic efficacy in breast-fed infants

For over a century, physicians have witnessed a common enrichment of bifidobacteria in the feces of breast-fed infants that was readily associated with infant health status. Recent advances in bacterial genomics, metagenomics, and glycomics have helped explain the nature of this unique enrichment and enabled the tailored use of probiotic supplementation to restore missing bifidobacterial functions in at-risk infants. This review documents a 20-year span of discoveries that set the stage for the current use of human milk oligosaccharide-consuming bifidobacteria to beneficially colonize, modulate, and protect the intestines of at-risk, human milk-fed, neonates. This review also presents a model for probiotic applications wherein bifidobacterial functions, in the form of colonization and HMO-related catabolic activity in situ, represent measurable metabolic outcomes by which probiotic efficacy can be scored toward improving infant health.

Synergy between oligosaccharides and probiotics: From metabolic properties to beneficial effects

Synbiotic is defined as the dietary mixture that comprises both probiotic microorganisms and prebiotic substrates. The concept has been steadily gaining attention owing to the rising recognition of probiotic, prebiotics, and gut health. Among prebiotic substances, oligosaccharides demonstrated considerable health beneficial effects in varieties of food products and their combination with probiotics have been subjected to full range of evaluations. This review delineated the landscape of studies using microbial cultures, cell lines, animal model, and human subjects to explore the functional properties and host impacts of these combinations. Overall, the results suggested that these combinations possess respective metabolic properties that could facilitate beneficial activities therefore could be employed as dietary interventions for human health improvement and therapeutic purposes. However, uncertainties, such as applicational practicalities, underutilized analytical tools, contradictory results in studies, unclear mechanisms, and legislation hurdles, still challenges the broad utilization of these combinations. Future studies to address these issues may not only advance current knowledge on probiotic-prebiotic-host interrelationship but also promote respective applications in food and nutrition.

The promising role of probiotics/prebiotics/synbiotics in energy metabolism biomarkers in patients with NAFLD: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease with a high prevalence worldwide, seriously harming human health, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. In recent years, increasing evidence has indicated that intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the occurrence and development of NAFLD. The regulation method of probiotics/prebiotics/synbiotics can alter the intestinal microbiota and has been suggested as an option in the treatment of NAFLD.

Methods

Five databases of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, clinicaltrails.gov, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched initially, and then the eligible studies were screened. Finally, the data of included studieswere extracted, combined and analyzed

Results

A total of 29 randomized controlled trials involving 2,110 patients were included in this study. The results showed that using probiotics/prebiotics/synbiotics in the intervention group could reduce the levels of glucose (SMD = −0.23, 95% CI [−0.45, −0.01], P = 0.04), HOMA-IR (SMD = −0.47, 95% CI [−0.63, −0.31], P < 0.00001) and insulin (SMD = −0.46, 95% CI [−0.76, −0.16], P = 0.002) in sugar metabolism; in terms of lipid metabolism, the levels of TC (SMD = −0.62, 95%CI [−0.87, −0.36], P < 0.00001), and LDL-C (SMD = −0.57, 95%CI [−0.85, −0.28], P < 0.00001) were decreased; and the level of ALB was decreased in protein metabolism (SMD = −0.34, 95%CI [−0.61, −0.06], P = 0.02).

Conclusions

Based on the current evidence, probiotics/prebiotics/synbiotics may improve energy metabolism biomarkers in the NAFLD population, but these effects still need to be confirmed by further research.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#aboutpage.

Crosstalk Between the Gut and Brain: Importance of the Fecal Microbiota in Patient With Brain Tumors

Background

Variations in the gut microbiota may affect the metabolism, inflammation and immune response of the host. Microbiota dysbiosis has been extensively investigated in neurological disorders and diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). However, the alterations of the gut microbiota in patients suffering from brain tumors and the associations of the gut microbiota with these diseases remain unknown. Herein, we investigate the alterations of the gut microbiota community in patients with brain tumors and the associations between the two and further explore microbial markers used for the diagnosis of brain tumors.

Methods

In our study, we recruited 158 participants, consisting of 101 brain tumor patients (65 benign and 36 malignant cases) and 57 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). We characterized the gut microbial community by using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and investigated its correlations with clinical features.

Results

The results showed remarkably less microbial ecosystem richness and evenness in patients with brain tumors than in HCs. The gut microbiota community structure underwent profound changes in the brain tumor group, including an increase in the abundances of pathogenic bacteria, such as Fusobacteriota and Proteobacteria and a reduction in the abundances of probiotic bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium or Lachnospira. Moreover, our study indicated more significant correlations and clustering of pathogens in the malignant brain tumor group. Furthermore, a biomarker panel was used to discriminate the brain tumor patients from the healthy controls (AUC: 0.77). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotation revealed an accumulation of harmful metabolites and disorders of the basic physiological pathways in the brain tumor group.

Conclusions

Our study revealed that brain tumor patients may possess divergent host-microbe interactions from those of healthy controls, especially in malignant brain tumor patients. In addition, the intestinal flora may be involved in immune responses and metabolism in the microenvironment of brain tumors. All evidence, including the biomarker panel, suggests that the intestinal flora may be a useful diagnostic and predictive tool and an important preventive target for brain tumors.

Dietary Fiber to Starch Ratio Affects Bovine Milk Oligosaccharide Profiles

Background

Bovine milk oligosaccharides (BMOs) have several demonstrated and hypothesized benefits including roles in cognitive development and antipathogenic activities, making them promising ingredients for infant formulas and nutraceutical applications. BMO extraction from bovine milk is challenged by low concentrations relative to nonbioactive simple sugars like lactose. BMO abundances are known to vary with a cow's lactation stage, breed, and parity, but these characteristics are difficult to modify in existing dairy herds. In contrast, diet modification is an accessible target, and is already known to influence milk yield, lipid content, protein levels, and monosaccharide compositions.

Objectives

To determine the impact of a low starch high fiber versus a high starch low fiber diet on overall BMO profiles and individual BMO abundances in Holstein dairy cattle.

Methods

Milk samples were collected from 59 midlactation Holsteins in a crossover study featuring dietary modification with either a low starch high fiber or high starch low fiber feed. BMO profiles were evaluated by nano-LC quadrupole time-of-flight tandem MS, and differences in BMO abundances between diets were evaluated using linear mixed effects modeling.

Results

A total of 19 BMOs were identified across the sample set, including 4 large fucosylated compounds. Seven BMOs were found to have significantly more positive percent changes in yield-adjusted abundance from the pre-experiment baseline period for milk samples collected during feeding with the low starch high fiber diet compared with the high starch low fiber diet.

Conclusions

Consuming the low starch high fiber diet promoted greater overall BMO production than the high starch low fiber diet in a population of midlactation Holsteins. Additionally, this study afforded the opportunity to investigate the impact of other factors potentially influencing BMO abundances, furthering understanding of how dairy herd management practices can positively impact milk composition and support the potential use of BMOs as functional ingredients.

Intestinal Microbiota Remodeling Protects Mice from Western Diet-Induced Brain Inflammation and Cognitive Decline

It has been shown that the Western diet (WD) induces systemic inflammation and cognitive decline. Moreover, probiotic supplementation and antibiotic treatment reduce diet-induced hepatic inflammation. The current study examines whether shaping the gut microbes by Bifidobacterium infantis (B. infantis) supplementation and antibiotic treatment reduce diet-induced brain inflammation and improve neuroplasticity. Furthermore, the significance of bile acid (BA) signaling in regulating brain inflammation was studied. Mice were fed a control diet (CD) or WD for seven months. B. infantis was supplemented to WD-fed mice to study brain inflammation, lipid, metabolomes, and neuroplasticity measured by long-term potentiation (LTP). Broad-spectrum coverage antibiotics and cholestyramine treatments were performed to study the impact of WD-associated gut microbes and BA in brain inflammation. Probiotic B. infantis supplementation inhibited diet-induced brain inflammation by reducing IL6, TNFα, and CD11b levels. B. infantis improved LTP and increased brain PSD95 and BDNF levels, which were reduced due to WD intake. Additionally, B. infantis reduced cecal cholesterol, brain ceramide and enhanced saturated fatty acids. Moreover, antibiotic treatment, as well as cholestyramine, diminished WD-induced brain inflammatory signaling. Our findings support the theory that intestinal microbiota remodeling by B. infantis reduces brain inflammation, activates BA receptor signaling, and improves neuroplasticity.

Targeting gut microbial bile salt hydrolase (BSH) by diet supplements: new insights into dietary modulation of human health

Dietary supplements could modulate the abundance of BSH-producing bacteria to regulate the BSH enzyme activity, thereby change the BAs composition to regulate FXR signaling, which then regulate human health.

The Role of the Intestinal Microbiota in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a serious disease threatening public health, and its pathogenesis remains largely unclear. Recent scientific research has shown that intestinal microbiota and its metabolites have an important impact on the development of NASH. A balanced intestinal microbiota contributes to the maintenance of liver homeostasis, but when the intestinal microbiota is disequilibrated, it serves as a source of pathogens and molecules that lead to NASH. In this review, we mainly emphasize the key mechanisms by which the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites affect NASH. In addition, recent clinical trials and animal studies on the treatment of NASH by regulating the intestinal microbiota through prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics and FMT have also been briefly elaborated. With the increasing understanding of interactions between the intestinal microbiota and liver, accurate and personalized detection and treatment methods for NASH are expected to be established.

Human Gut Microbiome and Liver Diseases: From Correlation to Causation

The important role of human gut microbiota in liver diseases has long been recognized as dysbiosis and the translocation of certain microbes from the gut to liver. With the development of high-throughput DNA sequencing, the complexity and integrity of the gut microbiome in the whole spectrum of liver diseases is emerging. Specific patterns of gut microbiota have been identified in liver diseases with different causes, including alcoholic, non-alcoholic, and virus induced liver diseases, or even at different stages, ranging from steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, to hepatocellular carcinoma. At the same time, the mechanism of how microbiota contributes to liver diseases goes beyond the traditional function of the gut-liver axis which could lead to liver injury and inflammation. With the application of proteomics, metabolomics, and modern molecular technologies, more microbial metabolites and the complicated interaction of microbiota with host immunity come into our understanding in the liver pathogenesis. Germ-free animal models serve as a workhorse to test the function of microbiota and their derivatives in liver disease models. Here, we review the current evidence on the relationship between gut microbiota and liver diseases, and the mechanisms underlying this phenotype. In addition to original liver diseases, gut microbiota might also affect liver injury in systemic disorders involving multiple organs, as in the case of COVID-19 at a severe state. A better understanding of the gut microbial contribution to liver diseases might help us better benefit from this guest-host relationship and pave the way for novel therapies.

Probiotics as a Treatment for "Metabolic Depression"? A Rationale for Future Studies

Depression and metabolic diseases often coexist, having several features in common, e.g., chronic low-grade inflammation and intestinal dysbiosis. Different microbiota interventions have been proposed to be used as a treatment for these disorders. In the paper, we review the efficacy of probiotics in depressive disorders, obesity, metabolic syndrome and its liver equivalent based on the published experimental studies, clinical trials and meta-analyses. Probiotics seem to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms when administered in addition to antidepressants. Additionally, probiotics intake may ameliorate some of the clinical components of metabolic diseases. However, standardized methodology regarding probiotics use in clinical trials has not been established yet. In this narrative review, we discuss current knowledge on the recently used methodology with its strengths and limitations and propose criteria that may be implemented to create a new study of the effectiveness of probiotics in depressive disorders comorbid with metabolic abnormalities. We put across our choice on type of study population, probiotics genus, strains, dosages and formulations, intervention period, as well as primary and secondary outcome measures.

Current innovations in nutraceuticals and functional foods for intervention of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

As innovations in global agricultural production and food trading systems lead to major dietary shifts, high morbidity rates from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), accompanied by elevated risk of lipid metabolism-related complications, has emerged as a growing problem worldwide. Treatment and prevention of NAFLD and chronic liver disease depends on the availability of safe, effective, and diverse therapeutic agents, the development of which is urgently needed. Supported by a growing body of evidence, considerable attention is now focused on interventional approaches that combines nutraceuticals and functional foods. In this review, we summarize the pathological progression of NAFLD and discuss the beneficial effects of nutraceuticals and the active ingredients in functional foods. We also describe the underlying mechanisms of these compounds in the intervention of NAFLD, including their effects on regulation of lipid homeostasis, activation of signaling pathways, and their role in gut microbial community dynamics and the gut-liver axis. In order to identify novel targets for treatment of lipid metabolism-related diseases, this work broadly explores the molecular mechanism linking nutraceuticals and functional foods, host physiology, and gut microbiota. Additionally, the limitations in existing knowledge and promising research areas for development of active interventions and treatments against NAFLD are discussed.

Age-specific microbiota in altering host inflammatory and metabolic signaling as well as metabolome based on the sex

Background

Metabolism is sex-different, and the direct link between gut microbiota and aging-associated metabolic changes needs to be established in both sexes.

Methods

Gene expression, metabolic and inflammatory signaling, gut microbiota profile, and metabolome were studied during aging and after fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in mice of both sexes.

Results

Our data revealed young female mice and aged male mice were the most insulin sensitive and resistant group, respectively. In addition, aging reduced sex difference in insulin sensitivity. Such age- and sex-dependent metabolic phenotypes were accompanied by shifted gut microbiota profile and altered abundance of bacterial genes that produce butyrate, propionate, and bile acids. After receiving feces from the aged males (AFMT), the most insulin-resistant group, recipients of both sexes had increased hepatic inflammation and serum endotoxin. However, AFMT only increased insulin resistance in female mice and abolished sex difference in insulin sensitivity. Additionally, such changes were accompanied by narrowed sex difference in metabolome. Metabolomics data revealed that age-associated insulin resistance in males was accompanied by increased sugar alcohols and dicarboxylic acids as well as reduced aromatic and branched-chain amino acids. Further, receiving feces from the young females (YFMT), the most insulin-sensitive group, reduced body weight and fasting blood glucose in male recipients and improved insulin sensitivity in females, leading to enhanced sex differences in insulin sensitivity and metabolome.

Conclusions

Aging systemically affected inflammatory and metabolic signaling based on the sex. Gut microbiome is age and sex-specific, which affects inflammation and metabolism in a sex-dependent manner.

Gut microbiome dysbiosis and correlation with blood biomarkers in active-tuberculosis in endemic setting

Tuberculosis (TB) is the largest infectious disease with 10 million new active-TB patients and1.7 million deaths per year. Active-TB is an inflammatory disease and is increasingly viewed as an imbalance of immune responses to M. tb. infection. The mechanisms of a switch from latent infection to active disease is not well worked out but a shift in the immune responses is thought to be responsible. Increasingly, the role of gut microbiota has been described as a major influencer of the immune system. And because the gut is the largest immune organ, we aimed to analyze the gut microbiome in active-TB patients in a TB-endemic country, Pakistan. The study revealed that Ruminococcacea, Enetrobactericeae, Erysipelotrichaceae, Bifidobacterium, etc. were the major genera associated with active-TB, also associated with chronic inflammatory disease. Plasma antibody profiles against several M. tb. antigens, as specific biomarkers for active-TB, correlated closely with the patient gut microbial profiles. Besides, bcoA gene copy number, indicative of the level of butyrate production by the gut microbiome was five-fold lower in TB patients compared to healthy individuals. These findings suggest that gut health in TB patients is compromised, with implications for disease morbidity (e.g., severe weight loss) as well as immune impairment.

Dysregulated bile acid receptor-mediated signaling and IL-17A induction are implicated in diet-associated hepatic health and cognitive function

BACKGROUND

Chronic consumption of high sugar and high fat diet associated with liver inflammation and cognitive decline. This paper tests a hypothesis that the development and resolution of diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has an impact on neuroplasticity and cognition.

METHODS

C57BL/6 wild-type mice were fed with either a healthy control diet (CD) or a fructose, palmitate, and cholesterol (FPC)-enriched diet since weaning. When mice were 3-months old, FPC diet-fed mice were randomly assigned to receive either FPC-enriched diet with or without 6% inulin supplementation. At 8 months of age, all three groups of mice were euthanized followed by analysis of inflammatory signaling in the liver and brain, gut microbiota, and cecal metabolites.

RESULTS

Our data showed that FPC diet intake induced hepatic steatosis and inflammation in the liver and brain along with elevated RORγ and IL-17A signaling. Accompanied by microglia activation and reduced hippocampal long-term potentiation, FPC diet intake also reduced postsynaptic density-95 and brain derived neurotrophic factor, whereas inulin supplementation prevented diet-reduced neuroplasticity and the development of NAFLD. In the gut, FPC diet increased Coriobacteriaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae, which are implicated in cholesterol metabolism, and the genus Allobaculum, and inulin supplementation reduced them. Furthermore, FPC diet reduced FXR and TGR5 signaling, and inulin supplementation reversed these changes. Untargeted cecal metabolomics profiling uncovered 273 metabolites, and 104 had significant changes due to FPC diet intake or inulin supplementation. Among the top 10 most affected metabolites, FPC-fed mice had marked increase of zymosterol, a cholesterol biosynthesis metabolite, and reduced 2,8-dihydroxyquinoline, which has known benefits in reducing glucose intolerance; these changes were reversible by inulin supplementation. Additionally, the abundance of Barnesiella, Coprobacter, Clostridium XIVa, and Butyrivibrio were negatively correlated with FPC diet intake and the concentration of cecal zymosterol but positively associated with inulin supplementation, suggesting their benefits.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, the presented data suggest that diet alters the gut microbiota and their metabolites, including bile acids. This will subsequently affect IL-17A signaling, resulting in systemic impacts on both hepatic metabolism and cognitive function.

The Potential Gut Microbiota-Mediated Treatment Options for Liver Cancer

Primary liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Surgical and non-surgical treatments are optional for liver cancer therapy based on the cancer stage. Accumulating studies show that the gut–liver axis influences the progression of liver diseases, including liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and cancer. However, the role of gut microbiota and their derived components and metabolites in liver cancer remains to be further clarified. In this review, we discuss the roles of gut microbiota and specific bacterial species in HCC and the strategies to modulate gut microbiota to improve antitumor therapy. Given the limitation of current treatments, gut microbiota-mediated therapy is a potential option for HCC treatment, including fiber diet and vegetable diet, antimicrobials, probiotics, and pharmaceutical inhibitors. Also, gut microbiota can be used as a marker for early diagnosis of HCC. HCC occurs dependent on various environmental and genetic factors, including diet and sex. Furthermore, gut microbiota impacts the immunotherapy of HCC treatment. Therefore, a better understanding of the role of the gut–liver axis in liver cancer is critically important to improve therapeutic efficacy.

Probiotics and Human Milk Oligosaccharides in Premature Infants

Intestinal dysbiosis precedes and is a likely causative factor in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and many cases of late-onset sepsis. Randomized controlled trials and observational cohort studies demonstrate decreased risk of NEC, sepsis, and death with the administration of probiotic microbes and decreased risk of NEC and sepsis with feeding of human milk. Animal studies suggest promising mechanisms by which probiotic microbes and human milk oligosaccharides alter the composition of the intestinal microbiota and may prevent disease in premature infants. Inclusion of parents in discussions of the risks and benefits of human milk and probiotics for premature infants is essential.

Gut microbiota remodeling reverses aging-associated inflammation and dysregulation of systemic bile acid homeostasis in mice sex-specifically

Aging is usually characterized with inflammation and disordered bile acids (BAs) homeostasis, as well as gut dysbiosis. The pathophysiological changes during aging are also sexual specific. However, it remains unclear about the modulating process among gut microbiota, BA metabolism, and inflammation during aging. In this study, we established a direct link between gut microbiota and BA profile changes in the liver, serum, and four intestinal segments of both sexes during aging and gut microbiota remodeling by co-housing old mice with young ones. We found aging reduced Actinobacteria in male mice but increased Firmicutes in female mice. Among the top 10 altered genera with aging, 4 genera changed oppositely between male and female mice, and most of the changes were reversed by co-housing in both sexes. Gut microbiota remodeling by co-housing partly rescued the systemically dysregulated BA homeostasis induced by aging in a sex- and tissue-specific manner. Aging had greater impacts on hepatic BA profile in females, but intestinal BA profile in males. In addition, aging increased hepatic and colonic deoxycholic acid in male mice, but reduced them in females. Moreover, muricholic acids shifted markedly in the intestine, especially in old male mice, and partially reversed by co-housing. Notably, the ratios of primary to secondary BAs in the liver, serum, and all four intestinal segments were increased in old mice and reduced by co-housing in both sexes. Together, the presented data revealed that sex divergent changes of gut microbiota and BA profile in multiple body compartments during aging and gut microbiota remodeling, highlighting the sex-specific prevention and treatment of aging-related disorders by targeting gut microbiota-regulated BA metabolism should particularly be given more attention.

Can Synbiotic Dietary Pattern Predict Lactobacillales Strains in Breast Milk?

Background: Human milk potentially includes probiotic Lactobacillales, an order of gram-positive bacteria that have the ability to ferment sugars to lactic acid. These bioactive agents may be affected by maternal dietary patterns. This study aimed to find out significant dietary patterns and their relation with the current presence of available Lactobacillales levels in breast milk. Materials and Methods: This comparative study was done in a clinic in Isfahan, Iran. A total number of 345 healthy mothers were assessed for major dietary patterns. Among identified patterns, two main patterns (synbiotic, n = 41; Western, n = 132) were selected for comparison. Lactobacillales colonies were then counted in the breast milk samples. Analysis of covariance test was used to analyze the association between dietary patterns and breastfeeding. Results: Two significant dietary patterns (synbiotic and Western) were identified through the factor analysis method. These patterns accounted for 34.41% of the cumulative variance in food groups (synbiotic pattern, 12.77%; Western pattern, 21.64%). Synbiotic dietary pattern (syn.patt) was related to higher Lactobacillales counts (5.3 ± 1.4 log CFU/g), whereas the lower number of Lactobacillales were detected from Western dietary pattern (West.patt) (3.3 ± 1.9 log CFU/g; p < 0.05). Conclusion:Syn.patt and West.patt can affect the Lactobacillales population; so, probiotic strains especially Lactobacillales may be improved by healthy syn.patt. This association should be confirmed by clinical trials.

Combined Amelioration of Prebiotic Resveratrol and Probiotic Bifidobacteria on Obesity and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity are becoming increasingly common globally and characteristic as gut microbiota disturbance. Supplement of probiotics is considered as a promising strategy for NAFLD and obesity treatment. However, this effect varied from each other in clinical trials. We proposed that combination with a prebiotic substrate may improve the effects of probiotics. Thus, in this study, we investigated the separated and combined effects of Bifidobacteria and resveratrol (RSV) against obesity and NAFLD. NAFLD was caused by high-fat diet (HFD) feeding for 8 weeks. HFD-treated mice were orally treated with B. longum (1 × 10⁹ CFU/mouse/day), RSV (100 mg/kg/day), and both of them from the fifth week. HFD feeding caused obesity and NAFLD as indicated by significantly increased body and liver weights, liver steatosis, elevated serum transaminases and lipid profiles, increased inflammation and imbalanced redox status. Based on these physical and biochemical parameters, inflammatory and antioxidant markers, individual administration of B. longum and RSV alleviated obesity and NAFLD, while coadministration of both products further enhanced the efficacy. These data suggested that combined prebiotic RSV and probiotic B. longum would be a potential candidate or adjuvant for the treatment of obesity and NAFLD.

Probiotics VSL#3 are effective in reversing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in a mouse model

Background

Probiotic VSL#3 is used to treat ulcerative colitis. This study examines the effect of VSL#3 in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that has liver carcinogenic potential.

Methods

Western diet (WD)-fed wild-type (WT) mice that do not have hepatic inflammation with lymphocyte infiltration and carcinogenic potential were used for baseline comparison. Age-, sex-, and diet-matched bile acid (BA) receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) knockout (KO) mice, which developed severe NASH and had the potential for liver cancer development, were supplemented with and without VSL#3 for 7 months. All the mice were euthanized when they were 10 months old.

Results

Supplementation with VSL#3 completely abolished hepatic lymphocyte infiltration, reduced hepatic fat content, and improved insulin sensitivity in WD-fed FXR KO mice. In addition, VSL#3 normalized dysregulated BA homoeostasis by inhibiting the classical BA synthesis pathway, inducing the alternative BA pathway, and activating ileal G-protein coupled BA receptor 1 (GPBAR1)-regulated signaling. Moreover, VSL#3 reconstructed the gut microbiota by reducing Bacteroidaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, and Helicobacteraceae as well as increasing Lachnospiraceae. Further, VSL#3 enriched the abundance of Ruminococcus and Faecalibacterium, which generate butyrate, at the genus level. It also increased the copy number of the butyrate-producing genes bcoA and buk, suggesting their anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects.

Conclusions

VSL#3 is useful in reversing NASH that occurred due to dysregulated BA synthesis and dysbiosis, suggesting its potential in liver cancer prevention.

Differential metabolic and hepatic transcriptome responses of two miniature pig breeds to high dietary cholesterol

AIMS

Pigs are increasingly used as human metabolic disease models; however, there is insufficient research on breed-related genetic background differences. This study aimed to investigate the differential metabolic responses to high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFC) diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) of two miniature pig breeds and explore the molecular mechanisms involved.

MAIN METHODS

Male Wuzhishan (WZSP) and Tibetan pigs (TP) were randomly fed either a standard or an HFC diet for 24 weeks. Weight, serum lipids, bile acid, insulin resistance, liver function, liver histology, and hepatic lipid deposition were determined. RNA-Seq was used to detect the hepatic gene expression profiles. Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and qRT-PCR were used to detect the lipid and glucose metabolism-related gene expressions.

KEY FINDINGS

The HFC diet caused obesity, hypertension, severe hypercholesterolemia, liver injury, increased hepatocellular steatosis and inflammation, and significantly increased serum insulin levels in both pig breeds. This diet led to higher serum and hepatic cholesterol level concentrations in WZSP and elevated fasting glucose levels in TP. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the genes controlling hepatic cholesterol metabolism and the inflammatory response were consistently regulated; lipid metabolism and insulin signaling related genes were uniquely regulated by the HFC diet in the WZSP and TP, respectively.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our study demonstrated that the genetic background affects profoundly pigs' metabolic and hepatic responses to an HFC diet. These results deepened our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HFC diet-induced NAFLD and provided a foundation for selecting the appropriate pig breeds for metabolic studies in the future.

Symposium review: Dairy-derived oligosaccharides-Their influence on host-microbe interactions in the gastrointestinal tract of infants

Oligosaccharides are the third most abundant component in human milk. It is widely accepted that they play several important protective, physiological, and biological roles, including selective growth stimulation of beneficial gut microbiota, inhibition of pathogen adhesion, and immune modulation. However, until recently, very few commercial products on the market have capitalized on these functions. This is mainly because the quantities of human milk oligosaccharides required for clinical trials have been unavailable. Recently, clinical studies have tested the potential beneficial effects of feeding infants formula containing 2'-fucosyllactose, which is the most abundant oligosaccharide in human milk. These studies have opened this field for further well-designed studies, which are required to fully understand the role of human milk oligosaccharides. However, one of the most striking features of human milk is its diversity of oligosaccharides, with over 200 identified to date. It may be that a mixture of oligosaccharides is even more beneficial to infants than a single structure. For this reason, the milk of domestic animals has become a focal point in recent years as an alternative source of complex oligosaccharides with associated biological activity. This review will focus specifically on free oligosaccharides found in bovine and caprine milk and the biological roles associated with such structures. These dairy streams are ideal sources of oligosaccharides, given their wide availability and use in so many regularly consumed dairy products. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of research into the functional role of bovine and caprine milk oligosaccharides in host-microbial interactions in the gut and provide current knowledge related to the isolation of oligosaccharides as ingredients for incorporation in functional or medical foods.

Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiome is associated with Tumor Biomarkers in Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a malignancy with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. More evidences indicated that gut microbiome plays an important role in the carcinogenesis and progression of cancers by metabolism, inflammation and immune response. However, the study about the characterizations of gut microbiome in lung cancer is limited. In this study, the fecal samples were collected from 16 healthy individuals and 30 lung cancer patients who were divided into 3 groups based on different tumor biomarkers (cytokeratin 19 fragment, neuron specific enolase and carcinoembryonic antigen, respectively) and were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Each lung cancer group has characterized gut microbial community and presents an elimination, low-density, and loss of bacterial diversity microbial ecosystem compared to that of the healthy control. The microbiome structures in family and genera levels are more complex and significantly varied from each group presenting more different and special pathogen microbiome such as Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcus, Prevotella, etc and fewer probiotic genera including Blautia, Coprococcus, Bifidobacterium and Lachnospiraceae. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and COG annotation demonstrated decreased abundance of some dominant metabolism-related pathways in the lung cancer. This study explores for the first time the features of gut microbiome in lung cancer patients and may provide new insight into the pathogenesis of lung cancer system, with the implication that gut microbiota may serve as a microbial marker and contribute to the derived metabolites, development and differentiation in lung cancer system.

Structures and Metabolic Properties of Bovine Milk Oligosaccharides and Their Potential in the Development of Novel Therapeutics

Among the many bioactive components in human milk, the free oligosaccharides (OS) have been intensely studied in recent decades due to their unique ability to selectively modulate the infant gut microbiota, in addition to providing numerous other health benefits. In light of the demonstrated value of these compounds, recent studies have set out to characterize the structures and properties of the similar and more widely-available OS in the dairy industry. This mini review gives a brief overview of the common analytical techniques used to characterize bovine milk OS and highlights several recent, key studies that have identified valuable physiological and metabolic effects of these molecules in vivo. Although traditionally considered indigestible by human enzymes, evidence now suggests that milk OS are partially absorbed in the intestines and likely contribute to the development of molecular structures in the brain. Furthermore, aside from their prebiotic effects, these compounds show promise as therapeutics that could alleviate numerous metabolic abnormalities, including undernutrition, obesity, and excessive intestinal permeability. The need for novel treatments to address these and related health issues is motivating the development of scalable techniques to produce large quantities of milk OS for use as food ingredients. The safety and tolerability of high dosages of bovine milk OS have been demonstrated in two independent human studies, which potentially opens the door for further research aiming to utilize these molecules to alleviate common metabolic health issues.

Increased Cadmium Excretion Due to Oral Administration of Lactobacillus plantarum Strains by Regulating Enterohepatic Circulation in Mice

The heavy metal cadmium (Cd) is a contaminant widely distributed in the food chain. In the present study, 8-week oral administration of a probiotic strain, Lactobacillus plantarum CCFM8610, markedly decreased blood Cd levels in volunteers. Further animal study showed that three L. plantarum strains administered orally exhibited significantly different effects on the regulation of bile acid (BA) metabolism and Cd excretion in mice. Among the strains, L. plantarum CCFM8610 showed the most significant effects on enhancing hepatic BA synthesis, biliary glutathione output, and fecal BA excretion. Biliary Cd output and fecal Cd excretion were markedly increased after L. plantarum CCFM8610 administration, resulting in a marked reduction in tissue Cd levels. The regulation of BA homeostasis and Cd excretion was due to the suppression of the enterohepatic farnesoid X receptor-fibroblast growth factor 15 (FXR-FGF15) axis by L. plantarum CCFM8610 and could be abolished by treatment with the FXR agonist GW4064. The regulatory effects were also related to the gut microbiota, as antibiotic pretreatment reversed L. plantarum CCFM8610-induced effects in BA and Cd metabolism.

Profiling of aminoxyTMT-labeled bovine milk oligosaccharides reveals substantial variation in oligosaccharide abundance between dairy cattle breeds

Free milk oligosaccharides are bioactive molecules that function as prebiotics and prevent infections that commonly afflict developing infants. To date, few publications have examined the factors affecting bovine milk oligosaccharide production among cattle in the dairy industry. Here we have applied a high-throughput isobaric labeling technique to measure oligosaccharide abundances in milk collected from Danish Holstein-Friesian and Jersey dairy cattle by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. With a total of 634 milk samples, this collection represents the largest sample set used for milk oligosaccharide profiling in the current literature. This study is also the first to use isobaric labeling for the purpose of measuring free oligosaccharides in a real sample set. We have identified 13 oligosaccharides that vary significantly by breed, with most structures being more abundant in the milk of Jersey cattle. The abundances of several oligosaccharides were increased in second-parity cows, and correlations between the abundances of oligosaccharide pairs were identified, potentially indicating similarities in their synthetic pathways. Fucosylated oligosaccharide structures were widely identified among both breeds. Improving our understanding of oligosaccharide production will aid in developing strategies to recover these compounds from processing streams and may enable their use as a functional ingredient in foods for infants and adults.

The role of gut microbiota in liver disease development and treatment

Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, and the third most common cause of cancer-related death. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which accounts for more than 90% of primary liver cancers, is an important public health problem. In addition to cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B viral (HBV) or hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming a major risk factor for liver cancer because of the prevalence of obesity. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) will likely become the leading indication for liver transplantation in the future. It is well recognized that gut microbiota is a key environmental factor in the pathogenesis of liver disease and cancer. The interplay between gut microbiota and liver disease has been investigated in animal and clinical studies. In this article, we summarize the roles of gut microbiota in the development of liver disease as well as gut microbiota-targeted therapies.

Effects of duodenal-jejunal bypass surgery in ameliorating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in diet-induced obese rats

BACKGROUND

Duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) is an important component of many types of current bariatric surgery including Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini-gastric bypass, biliopancreatic diversion, duodenal switch, and DJB plus sleeve gastrectomy. Surgery is often observed to ameliorate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but without a clearly delineated mechanism. In this study, we investigated the effects of DJB in diet-induced obese rats with NASH.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups and fed the following diets over 6 months: A) normal chow (NC group, n=6); B) methionine-choline-deficient (MCD)-high-fat (HF) diet (HF group, n=6); C) MCD-HF diet for 3 months followed by DJB and MCD-HF diet for subsequent 3 months (DJB group, n=6); and D) MCD-HF diet for 3 months followed by treatment with pioglitazone (PGZ) with MCD-HF diet for subsequent 3 months (PGZ group, n=6). Body weight, glucose tolerance, the homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance index, and lipid profiles were compared. Liver and visceral adipose tissue histology, inflammatory marker and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activity, and hepatocyte autophagy were assessed.

RESULTS

Compared with the HF group, the DJB group showed improved body weight, insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, and steatosis severity. The DJB group exhibited a significantly lower nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score than the HF and PGZ group (P<0.001 and P=0.003, respectively). Furthermore, DJB significantly reduced fat mass and adipocyte size. These effects were also observed in the PGZ group. Therefore, we speculated that the improvements induced by DJB are closely related to an alteration in insulin sensitivity. Moreover, DJB reduced HSC activity and TNF-α expression and enhanced hepatocyte autophagy.

CONCLUSION

DJB improves NASH through several mechanisms, particularly by altering insulin sensitivity, inflammatory responses, HSC activity, and hepatocyte autophagy.

Ganoderma lucidum Ameliorates Non-Alcoholic Steatosis by Upregulating Energy Metabolizing Enzymes in the Liver

Non-alcoholic steatosis is a common health problem worldwide due to altered food habits and life styles, and it is intimately linked with various metabolic disorders. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of Ganoderma lucidum (GL) against the development of non-alcoholic steatosis using in vivo and in vitro settings. C57BL/6 mice fed with normal diet (ND) or high fat diet (HFD) were administered GL extract or vehicle for 16 weeks. HFD feeding increased serum alanine aminotransferase level and hepatic lipid droplet, but these increases were significantly attenuated by GL. GL inhibited the increases in epididymal and perirenal adipose tissue weights and serum cholesterol and LDL levels in HFD-fed mice. Fasting blood glucose levels were elevated in HFD-fed mice compared to ND-fed mice, and glucose and insulin sensitivities were deteriorated. These changes were markedly improved by GL. GL restored the reduction of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation in the liver of HFD-fed mice, and increased AMPK and ACC phosphorylation in HepG2 and 3T3-L1 cells. GL induced GLUT4 protein expression in 3T3-L1 cells. Finally, GL attenuated lipid accumulation induced by free fatty acid in HepG2 cells. Taken together, our results indicate that GL has a potential to improve non-alcoholic steatosis and the associated complicated disorders via the induction of energy metabolizing enzymes.

The effect of synbiotics Bifidobacterium infantis and milk oligosaccharides on shaping gut microbiota community structure and NASH treatment

Probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis (Bifidobacterium infantis) consumes human milk oligosaccharides (MO) and protects intestinal permeability thereby having anti-inflammatory effects (Underwood et al., 2015; Bode, 2006; Asakuma et al., 2011) [1-3]. Via the gut-liver axis, gut barrier disruption and dysbiosis lead to hepatic inflammation (Sheng et al., 2017; Jena et al., 2017) [4,5,6]. Our published data revealed that butyrate, as well as synbiotics of B. infantis in combination with MO, had protective effects against cancer-prone non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) mouse models, i.e., Western diet (WD)-fed bile acid receptor FXR (farnesoid x receptor) knockout (KO) mice (Jena et al., 2018) [6,7]. In addition, MO was particularly effective in increasing the blooming of butyrate-generating bacteria (Jena et al., 2018) [7]. In the present study, we further showed that the reduced ileal short chain fatty acid (SCFA) signaling found in WD-fed FXR KO mice could be reversed by B. infantis and/or MO treatment. Moreover, ileal mRNA levels of SCFA receptors i.e. Gpr41 (Ffar3), Gpr109 (Hcar2), and Gpr43 (Ffar2) were increased in B. infantis and/or MO-treated mice suggesting increased SCFA signaling (Fig. 1). Further, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data revealed that MO and B. Infantis plus MO increased intestinal acetate, propionate, butyrate, and valerate levels (Fig. 2). In addition, B. infantis and/or MO reduced the abundance of genus Bilophila and the relative copy number of bacterial genes including dissimilatory sulfite reductase (dsrA) and methyl coenzyme M reductase A (mcrA), which were all increased in cancer-prone FXR KO mice (Fig. 3).