Project Summary/Abstract
Background – The microbiome affects host metabolism predominantly via metabolites synthesized or modified
by gut bacteria. The identity of these metabolites and their mechanisms of action in the host remain largely
unknown. Overarching metabolomic analyses have offered a glimpse into classes of microbial molecules and
how they associate with disease. Two such types of molecules, bile acids and folates have been shown in recent
years to differentially modulate cell signaling pathways. However, the mechanisms of how distinct bile acids and
folates induce gut permeability and inflammation, the hallmarks of metabolic syndrome remain largely evasive.
Research – Targeted metabolomic analyses in human patient and rodent models of inflammatory diseases will
identify bile acid and folate metabolites that differ compared to healthy controls. Preliminary data suggests that
microbial unconjugated bile acids induce intestinal permeability, inhibition of which protects against development
of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). Bile acids are deconjugated by gut bacteria. The K99 phase of the
proposal will identify mechanisms of how unconjugated bile acids induce intestinal permeability, and if chronic
inhibition of gut bacterial bile acid deconjugation is an effective strategy to rescue gut permeability and NASH.
There is sufficient evidence to suggest that bacterially produced polyglutamylated (glu) folates can activate host
folate receptor (FR) signaling, which in turn induces the MAP kinase pathway. The K99/R00 transition phase of
the proposal will identify and quantify individual folate molecules in diseased cohorts that activate FR. The
diseased samples include rodent and human bariatric surgery, NASH, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
intestinal contents. A compound library of folates will be generated for high-throughput screening. Inflammatory
folate producing bacteria will be isolated to establish causal relationships between strains and gut inflammation.
Multiple IBD patient ileal biopsies show an upregulation of the folate hydrolase (FOLH1) gene, the only known
purpose of which is to deconjugate poly-glu folates to mono-glu form. In the R00 phase, the mechanism of folate-
mediated upregulation of FOLH1 in IBD will be studied. Further, the role of poly-glu folate deconjugation will be
studied in the context of intestinal inflammation and metabolism. Alterations in mitochondrial dynamics, one-
carbon metabolism, and energy status will be measured following activation or inhibition of the folate/FR/FOLH1
axis. This study will also utilize high-throughput screening to identify molecules that can rescue gut inflammation.
Impact on Public Health – Bacteria in the gut encounter bile and dietary nutrients prior to their absorption in the
body. Approximately 50% of bile acids and folates absorbed from the intestine is microbially derived. Therefore,
studying microbiome-derived metabolites and their activity is important not only for intestinal, but organismal
homeostasis. Bile acids are one of the most abundant molecules in the gut, present in millimolar concentrations.
Folate concentrations, also high in the gut, vary widely based on folate fortification policies imposed by different
countries. Therefore, the study of these metabolites in disease prognosis will reveal strategies for amelioration.
