Rediscovered Intestinal Perception May Alter Perspectives on Appetite and Well-being
In a groundbreaking study led by scientists at Duke University, the direct communication between our bodies and the bacteria in our digestive tract has been unveiled. The research, published in Nature, focuses on the protein flagellin, found in the tails of many gut bacteria, and how it is detected by nerve cells in the gut.
Maya Kaelberer, a sensory neuro-gastroenterologist and co-lead author of the study, stated that the research discovered a sense for microbes in the colon, which she referred to as the "neurobiotic sense." This newly discovered neural sensing pathway could have significant implications for our understanding of health conditions and the complex relationship between humans and the microbial organisms in our digestive system.
Neuropod cells in the colon express TLR5, a receptor that detects bacterial flagellin. When flagellin binds to TLR5 on neuropods, these cells rapidly activate and release peptide YY (PYY), a hormone that suppresses appetite and promotes satiety. The activated neuropods also send an electrical signal via the vagus nerve to the brain, communicating a "stop eating" message in real time.
Experimental evidence shows that this pathway controls feeding behavior and body weight in mice. In animal studies, administering flagellin to the colon reduced food intake, but this effect was absent in mice genetically lacking TLR5, indicating that this pathway is crucial for microbial regulation of appetite.
The study also suggests that U.S. babies may be missing a key gut microbe, potentially increasing allergy risk. Although the study did not explicitly discuss the link between missing gut microbes and allergy risk, a separate study has suggested this possibility.
Further research is needed to confirm and better understand how the "neurobiotic sense" operates in people. The team hopes to uncover whether neuropods can also detect immune-related signals in future exploratory work. If confirmed, this could lead to novel targets for treating obesity or appetite disorders, as well as providing insights into how health conditions might alter the communication between gut bacteria, neuropods, and the brain.
- The 'neurobiotic sense,' discovered in the groundbreaking study, could potentially revolutionize our understanding of medical-conditions, particularly those related to health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and neurological-disorders.
- Interestingly, the study's findings suggest that the future of health management could involve harnessing the power of technology and science to tackle issues such as nutrition and appetite control.
- The intimate link between our bodies and the bacteria in our digestive tract, as unveiled in this research, opens up a new realm for exploration in the field of health-and-wellness.
- Implications of this researchextend beyond weight regulation, as the 'neurobiotic sense' could play a vital role in the treatment of various health-related issues including mental health and neurological disorders.
- Gizmodo reports that the scientific journal, Nature, has published a study revealing that our digestive system contains a sense for microbes in the colon, which scientists refer to as the 'neurobiotic sense.'
- Future research on this intriguing neural sensing pathway could lead to the development of novel treatments for relationsip dysfunction between gut bacteria, neuropods, and the brain, potentially aiding in the management of conditions such as obesity and appetite disorders.
