Increases Intestinal Melatonin Level by Activating P-CREB-AANAT Pathway

Intestinal melatonin exerts diverse biological effects on the body. Our previous research showed that the abundance of the butyrate-producing bacteria, , is positively related to the expression of colonic mucosal melatonin. However, the detailed relationship is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether regulates intestinal melatonin and its underlying mechanisms. Male Sprague-Dawley germfree rats were orally administered with or without . treatment significantly increased the intestinal melatonin level. The concentrations of propionate and butyrate in the intestinal contents were significantly elevated after gavage of . Propionate or butyrate treatment increased melatonin, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), and phosphorylated cAMP-response element-binding protein (p-CREB) levels. When pretreated with telotristat ethyl, the inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), or siRNA of , or 666-15, i.e., an inhibitor of CREB, propionate, or butyrate, could not promote melatonin production in the pheochromocytoma cell line BON-1. Metabolomics analysis showed that propionate and butyrate stimulation regulated levels of some metabolites and some metabolic pathways in BON-1 cell supernatants. In conclusion, propionate and butyrate, i.e., metabolites of , can promote intestinal melatonin synthesis by increasing 5-HT levels and promoting p-CREB-mediated transcription, thereby offering a potential target for ameliorating intestinal diseases.