Cited by 808Gut microbiota and healthMicroRNA in disease regulationGastrointestinal motility and disorders

The host shapes the gut microbiota via fecal microRNA

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Liu, Shirong, da Cunha, Andre Pires, Rezende, Rafael M., Cialic, Ron, Wei, Zhiyun, Bry, Lynn, Comstock, Laurie E., Gandhi, Roopali +1 more·2016·Cell Host & Microbe

Abstract

The host gut microbiota varies across species and individuals but is relatively stable over time within an individual. How the host selectively shapes the microbiota is largely unclear. Here, we show that fecal microRNA (miRNA)-mediated inter-species gene regulation facilitates host control of the gut microbiota. miRNAs are abundant in mouse and human fecal samples and present within extracellular vesicles. Cell-specific loss of the miRNA-processing enzyme, Dicer, identified intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) and Hopx-positive cells as predominant fecal miRNA sources. These miRNAs can enter bacteria, such as F. nucleatum and E. coli, specifically regulate bacterial gene transcripts, and affect bacterial growth. IEC-miRNA-deficient (Dicer1(ΔIEC)) mice exhibit uncontrolled gut microbiota and exacerbated colitis, and WT fecal miRNA transplantation restores fecal microbes and ameliorates colitis. These findings identify both a physiologic role by which fecal miRNA shapes the gut microbiota and a potential strategy for manipulating the microbiome.

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  • Host miRNA production by intestinal epithelial cells has a role in shaping the gut microbiome by affecting bacterial growth.

    “host miRNA production by intestinal epithelial cells has a role in shaping the gut microbiome by affecting bacterial growth (Liu et al., 2016)”

    From Gut reactions: Breaking down xenobiotic–microbiome interactions (2019) · cites this paper as Liu et al., 2016

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Authors
Liu, S., da Cunha, A. P., Rezende, R. M., Cialic, R., Wei, Z., Bry, L., Comstock, L. E., Gandhi, R., & Weiner, H. L.
Affiliations
Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
Corresponding author
Weiner, Howard L.
Venue
Cell Host & Microbe
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-01
Volume
19
Issue
1
Pages
32-43
ISSN
1931-3128 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2233291722
Cited by
808
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 55 · 2025: 88 · 2024: 90 · 2023: 74 · 2022: 93 · 2021: 116 · 2020: 83 · 2019: 62 · 2018: 62 · 2017: 51 · 2016: 33
FWCI
35.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell Host & Microbe (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI043458)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (P30DK034854)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS087226)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › MicroRNA in disease regulation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
Keywords
fecal microRNAs, gut microbiota, host-microbe interactions, extracellular vesicles, Dicer, intestinal epithelial cells, Escherichia coli, bacterial gene regulation, colitis, fecal microbiota transplantation, microbiome manipulation
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Animals, Bacteria, Feces, Humans, MicroRNAs, Gastrointestinal Tract, Mice

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