Cold-induced Conversion of Cholesterol to Bile Acids in Mice Shapes the Gut Microbiome and Promotes Adaptive Thermogenesis

Overview

Journal Nat Med

Specialties General Medicine
Molecular Biology

Date 2017 Jun 13

PMID 28604703

Citations 145

Authors

Anna Worthmann

Clara John

Malte C Ruhlemann

Miriam Baguhl

Femke-Anouska Heinsen

Nicola Schaltenberg

Markus Heine

Christian Schlein

Ioannis Evangelakos

Chieko Mineo

Markus Fischer

Maura Dandri

Claus Kremoser

Ludger Scheja

Andre Franke

Philip W Shaul

Joerg Heeren

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Adaptive thermogenesis is an energy-demanding process that is mediated by cold-activated beige and brown adipocytes, and it entails increased uptake of carbohydrates, as well as lipoprotein-derived triglycerides and cholesterol, into these thermogenic cells. Here we report that cold exposure in mice triggers a metabolic program that orchestrates lipoprotein processing in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and hepatic conversion of cholesterol to bile acids via the alternative synthesis pathway. This process is dependent on hepatic induction of cytochrome P450, family 7, subfamily b, polypeptide 1 (CYP7B1) and results in increased plasma levels, as well as fecal excretion, of bile acids that is accompanied by distinct changes in gut microbiota and increased heat production. Genetic and pharmacological interventions that targeted the synthesis and biliary excretion of bile acids prevented the rise in fecal bile acid excretion, changed the bacterial composition of the gut and modulated thermogenic responses. These results identify bile acids as important metabolic effectors under conditions of sustained BAT activation and highlight the relevance of cholesterol metabolism by the host for diet-induced changes of the gut microbiota and energy metabolism.

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