How gut microbes talk to organs: The role of endocrine and nervous routes.
BACKGROUND
Changes in gut microbiota composition and activity have been associated with different metabolic disorders, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiometabolic disorders. Recent evidence suggests that different organs are directly under the influence of bacterial metabolites that may directly or indirectly regulate physiological and pathological processes.


METHODS
We reviewed seminal as well as recent papers showing that gut microbes influence energy, glucose and lipid homeostasis by controlling different metabolic routes such as endocrine, enteric and central nervous system. These dialogues are discussed in the context of obesity and diabetes but also for brain pathologies and neurodegenerative disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
The recent advances in gut microbiota investigation as well as the discovery of specific metabolites interacting with host cells has led to the identification of novel inter-organ communication during metabolic disturbances. This suggests that gut microbes may be viewed as "novel" future therapeutic partners. This article is part of a special issue on microbiota.
Université catholique de Louvain, WELBIO - Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and BIOtechnology, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Brussels, Belgium; NeuroMicrobiota, European Associated Laboratory (INSERM/UCL), Toulouse, France; NeuroMicrobiota, European Associated Laboratory (INSERM/UCL), Brussels, Belgium.
Patrice D
PD
Cani
NeuroMicrobiota, European Associated Laboratory (INSERM/UCL), Toulouse, France; NeuroMicrobiota, European Associated Laboratory (INSERM/UCL), Brussels, Belgium; Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1220, Institut de Recherche en Santé Digestive (IRSD), INRA, ENVT, Toulouse, France.
Claude
C
Knauf
Central nervous system; Enteric nervous system; Enteroendocrine cells; Gut microbiota; Immune system; Metabolites