Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Gut Microbial Metabolite Indole: A Stimulator Of Enteroendocrine Cell Differentiation Via Activation Of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor, James Hart

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Enteroendocrine cells (EECs) regulate energy balance and glucose homeostasis by releasing hormones in response to food intake. Dysregulated EEC differentiation is observed in obesity, while gut microbiota metabolites influence this process. Here, we investigated the role of indole, a biologically active gut microbial metabolite, in EEC differentiation through aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation. Human intestinal organoids derived from jejunal mucosal biopsies were exposed to indole. Indole treatment significantly increased mRNA levels of chromogranin A, an EEC marker. The effect was reversed by an AhR antagonist, indicating AhR involvement. Indole also upregulated AhR target gene mRNA levels. These findings highlight the …