Microbiota-modulated CART+ enteric neurons autonomously regulate blood glucose

PA Muller, F Matheis, M Schneeberger, Z Kerner… - Science, 2020 - science.org
Science, 2020science.org
The gut microbiota affects tissue physiology, metabolism, and function of both the immune
and nervous systems. We found that intrinsic enteric-associated neurons (iEANs) in mice are
functionally adapted to the intestinal segment they occupy; ileal and colonic neurons are
more responsive to microbial colonization than duodenal neurons. Specifically, a microbially
responsive subset of viscerofugal CART+ neurons, enriched in the ileum and colon,
modulated feeding and glucose metabolism. These CART+ neurons send axons to the …
The gut microbiota affects tissue physiology, metabolism, and function of both the immune and nervous systems. We found that intrinsic enteric-associated neurons (iEANs) in mice are functionally adapted to the intestinal segment they occupy; ileal and colonic neurons are more responsive to microbial colonization than duodenal neurons. Specifically, a microbially responsive subset of viscerofugal CART+ neurons, enriched in the ileum and colon, modulated feeding and glucose metabolism. These CART+ neurons send axons to the prevertebral ganglia and are polysynaptically connected to the liver and pancreas. Microbiota depletion led to NLRP6- and caspase 11–dependent loss of CART+ neurons and impaired glucose regulation. Hence, iEAN subsets appear to be capable of regulating blood glucose levels independently from the central nervous system.
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