Abstract
Recent studies reveal a highly synchronized association of gut microbes with cell signaling and physiological mechanisms in the host. The gut microbiota comprises trillions of microorganisms with a cell number that is an order of magnitude greater than all eukaryotic cells in a human body. This indigenous microbiome produces multiple low-molecular weight (LMW) substances that include methylamines, enzymes, vitamins and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) such as butyrate, acetate, propionate, etc. Such metabolites intimately interact with specific signaling mediators in the cells, tissue and organs. Gut microbiota dysbiosis causes vast and varied genetic and epigenetic alterations in cellular pathways which may play a role in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Microbiota-derived methylamines may promote host DNA methylation patterns, while SCFAs produced from gut microbiota have the potential to modify chromatin arrangement, macrostructure and gene transcription via histone modifications. In this chapter, we describe how gut microbiota-derived metabolites induce abnormal gene expression profiles and DNA methylation and histone modifications that promote the onset and pathophysiology of lifestyle-related metabolic diseases such as obesity and T2DM. We also discuss current research strategies to develop microbiome-based nutritional management for these conditions.
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Sumi, S., Kartha, C.C. (2022). Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation by Gut Microbe-Modulated Metabolites in Chronic Metabolic Diseases. In: Thomas, S. (eds) Human Microbiome . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7672-7_5
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