Maternal gut microbiota in pregnancy influences offspring metabolic phenotype in mice

Mouse mothers transfer metabolic mode Obesity and metabolic diseases tend to go together, and humans who become obese are also prone to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems. Starting with the observation that offspring of germ-free mice tended to become obese on high-fat diets, Kimura et al. investigated how the presence of the microbiota might be protective in mice (see the Perspective by Ferguson). Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) from the microbiota are known to suppress insulin signaling and reduce fat deposition in adipocytes. Further experiments showed that SCFAs in the bloodstream were able to pass from a non–germ-free mother's gut microbiota across the placenta and into the developing embryos.…

• JA
  Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development

  Awards: JP15H05897, JP15H05898, JP18gm1010004h0103, JP18gm1010007
• JS
  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

  Awards: JP17H05344, JP17KT0055, JP18H04680