Persistent Organic Pollutants Modify Gut Microbiota-Host Metabolic Homeostasis in Mice Through Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alteration of the gut microbiota through diet and environmental contaminants may disturb physiological homeostasis, leading to various diseases including obesity and type 2 diabetes. Because most exposure to environmentally persistent organic pollutants (POPs) occurs through the diet, the host gastrointestinal tract and commensal gut microbiota are likely to be exposed to POPs.

Objectives

We examined the effect of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF), a persistent environmental contaminant, on gut microbiota and host metabolism, and we examined correlations between gut microbiota composition and signaling pathways.

Methods

Six-week-old male wild-type and Ahr-/- mice on the C57BL/6J background were treated with 24 μg/kg TCDF in the diet for 5 days. We used

SUBMITTER: Zhang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4492271 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature