The intestinal bacteria Blautia hominis and its derived metabolite indole-3-lactic acid alleviate hyperuricemia through dual mechanisms of action
This study aims to elucidate the role of the gut microbiota in hyperuricemia and to identify novel therapeutic strategies. The research investigates how the gut commensal bacterium Blautia hominisstrain GH001, isolated from healthy human donors, can alleviate hyperuricemia through a dual mechanism of action. The goals are to demonstrate that this strain not only directly degrades uric acid in the gut but also produces the metabolite indole-3-lactic acid (ILA), which subsequently activates the host's aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling pathway to upregulate the intestinal urate transporter ABCG2, thereby enhancing uric acid excretion. The relevance of this work lies in addressing the limitations of current urate-lowering therapies by providing a probiotic and metabolite-based approach that targets both microbial purine metabolism and host transport pathways, offering a promising and potentially safer alternative for the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia and its associated metabolic disorders.