Gut Microbes (Dec 2024)

The microbiota metabolite, phloroglucinol, confers long-term protection against inflammation

  • Janire Castelo,
  • Sarai Araujo-Aris,
  • Diego Barriales,
  • Samuel Tanner Pasco,
  • Iratxe Seoane,
  • Ainize Peña-Cearra,
  • Ainhoa Palacios,
  • Carolina Simó,
  • Virginia Garcia-Cañas,
  • Muthita Khamwong,
  • Itziar Martín-Ruiz,
  • Monika Gonzalez-Lopez,
  • Laura Barcena,
  • José Ezequiel Martín Rodríguez,
  • José Luís Lavín,
  • Naiara Gutiez,
  • Raquel Marcos,
  • Estibaliz Atondo,
  • Arantza Cobela,
  • Laura Plaza-Vinuesa,
  • Adrián Plata,
  • Eneko Santos-Fernandez,
  • Alberto Fernandez-Tejada,
  • Mari Carmen Villarán,
  • José Miguel Mancheño,
  • Juana Maria Flores,
  • Ana María Aransay,
  • Aize Pellón,
  • Blanca de las Rivas,
  • Rosario Muñoz,
  • Abelardo Margolles,
  • Patricia Ruas-Madiedo,
  • Maria Victoria Selma,
  • Mercedes Gomez de Agüero,
  • Leticia Abecia,
  • Juan Anguita,
  • Héctor Rodríguez

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2024.2438829
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 1

Abstract

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Phloroglucinol is a key byproduct of gut microbial metabolism that has been widely used as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. Here, we demonstrate that phloroglucinol tempers macrophage responses to pro-inflammatory pathogens and stimuli. In vivo, phloroglucinol administration decreases gut and extraintestinal inflammation in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease and systemic infection. The metabolite induces modest modifications in the microbiota. However, the presence of an active microbiota is required to preserve its anti-inflammatory activity. Remarkably, the protective effect of phloroglucinol lasts partially at least 6 months. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of bone marrow progenitors demonstrates the capacity of the metabolite to induce long-lasting innate immune training in hematopoietic lineages, at least partially through the participation of the receptor and transcription factor, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Phloroglucinol induces alterations in metabolic and epigenetic pathways that are most prevalent in upstream progenitors as hallmarks of central trained immunity. These data identify phloroglucinol as a dietary-derived compound capable of inducing central trained immunity and modulating the response of the host to inflammatory insults.

Keywords