title: Gut-adipose tissue axis in hepatic fat accumulation in humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent evidence suggests that in animals gut microbiota composition (GMC) affects the onset and progression of hepatic fat accumulation. The aim of this study was to investigate in humans whether subjects with high hepatic fat content (HHFC) differ in their GMC from those with low hepatic fat content (LHFC), and whether these differences are associated with body composition, biomarkers and abdominal adipose tissue inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatic fat content (HFC) was measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS). Fecal GMC was profiled by 16S rRNA fluorescence in situ hybridization and flow cytometry. Adipose tissue gene expression was analyzed using Affymetrix microarrays and quantitative PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HHFC group had unfavorable GMC described by lower amount of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (FPrau) (p<0.05) and relatively higher Enterobacteria than the LHFC group. Metabolically dysbiotic GMC associated with HOMA-IR and triglycerides (p<0.05 for both). Several inflammation-related adipose tissue genes were differentially expressed and correlated with HFC (p<0.05). In addition, the expression of certain genes correlated with GMC dysbiosis, i.e., low FPrau-to-Bacteroides ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HHFC subjects differ unfavorably in their GMC from LHFC subjects. Adipose tissue inflammation may be an important link between GMC, metabolic disturbances, and hepatic fat accumulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Eveliina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Munukka
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pekkala
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Petri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wiklund
authors.affiliation: Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rasool
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borra
authors.affiliation: Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Lingjia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Xiaowei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ojanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Shu Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.affiliation: Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Soile
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuomela
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alen
authors.affiliation: Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lahesmaa
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland; Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: sulin.cheng@jyu.fi.
authors.forename: Sulin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: Adipose tissue inflammation; Faecalibacterium prausnitzii; Leaky gut; Microbiota dysbiosis