The gut microbiota modulates glycaemic control and serum metabolite profiles in non-obese diabetic mice.
Islet autoimmunity in children who later progress to type 1 diabetes is preceded by dysregulated serum metabolite profiles, but the origin of these metabolic changes is unknown. The gut microbiota affects host metabolism and changes in its composition contribute to several immune-mediated diseases; however, it is not known whether the gut microbiota is involved in the early metabolic disturbances in progression to type 1 diabetes. We rederived non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice as germ free to explore the potential role of the gut microbiota in the development of diabetic autoimmunity and to directly investigate whether the metabolic profiles associated with the development of type 1 diabetes can be modulated by the gut microbiota. The absence of a gut microbiota in NOD mice did not affect the overall diabetes incidence but resulted in increased insulitis and levels of interferon gamma and interleukin 12; these changes were counterbalanced by improved peripheral glucose metabolism. Furthermore, we observed a markedly increased variation in blood glucose levels in the absence of a microbiota in NOD mice that did not progress to diabetes. Additionally, germ-free NOD mice had a metabolite profile similar to that of pre-diabetic children. Our data suggest that germ-free NOD mice have reduced glycaemic control and dysregulated immunologic and metabolic responses.
The Wallenberg Laboratory and Sahlgrenska Center for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Thomas U
TU
Greiner
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Espoo, Finland; Steno Diabetes Center, Gentofte, Denmark.
Tuulia
T
Hyötyläinen
Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Diabetes and Obesity Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Mikael
M
Knip
The Wallenberg Laboratory and Sahlgrenska Center for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Section for Metabolic Receptology and Enteroendocrinology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Fredrik
F
Bäckhed
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Espoo, Finland; Steno Diabetes Center, Gentofte, Denmark.
Matej
M
Orešič
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007249:Inflammation; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D055432:Metabolomics; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D064307:Microbiota
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001786:Blood Glucose; D016207:Cytokines; D007328:Insulin