The pathophysiological role of gut microbiota-derived acetate under aging
Gut microbiota and its metabolic products directly affect host pathophysiology. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota under aging is strongly associated with many clinical manifestations and aging-related illnesses (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, diabetes/ obesity, and neurodegenerative diseases).
Acetate is the primary fermentation product in the gut. Interestingly, gut-derived acetate has been found to drive insulin secretion in the brain of fruit flies and modulate host lipid metabolism. Despite these observations, it is unclear how the gut senses acetate and alters the gut-brain axis for hormonal and metabolic control. In addition, as aging is an inevitable risk factor for insulin resistance, whether dysregulation of the acetate-gut-brain axis contributes to abnormal insulin signaling during aging is unknown. Dr. Miao’s project focuses on understanding the molecular mechanism of intestinal acetate-mediated tissue communication during aging.
