Cited by 2,236Gut microbiota and healthTryptophan and brain disordersAnimal Nutrition and Physiology

Microbial tryptophan catabolites in health and disease

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Roager, Henrik M., Licht, Tine R.·2018·Nature Communications

Abstract

Accumulating evidence implicates metabolites produced by gut microbes as crucial mediators of diet-induced host-microbial cross-talk. Here, we review emerging data suggesting that microbial tryptophan catabolites resulting from proteolysis are influencing host health. These metabolites are suggested to activate the immune system through binding to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), enhance the intestinal epithelial barrier, stimulate gastrointestinal motility, as well as secretion of gut hormones, exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative or toxic effects in systemic circulation, and putatively modulate gut microbial composition. Tryptophan catabolites thus affect various physiological processes and may contribute to intestinal and systemic homeostasis in health and disease.

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  • Healthy ageing correlates with increased indoles, gut bacterial tryptophan degradation products that mediate immune homeostasis via aryl hydrocarbon and IL-10 receptors.

    “healthy ageing correlates with an increased presence of certain indoles, which are gut bacterial degradation products of tryptophan that mediate immune homeostasis upon binding to aryl hydrocarbon receptors and IL-10 receptors15–17”

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  1. [72]Lacy BE Chey WD Lembo AJ New and Emerging Treatment Options for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Gastroenterol. Hepatol. (N. Y) 2015 11 1 19 PMC4612133 26491416

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Authors
Roager, H. M., & Licht, T. R.
Affiliations
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • Technical University of Denmark (DK)
Corresponding author
  • Roager, Henrik M.
  • Licht, Tine R.
Venue
Nature Communications
Published
2018-08-17
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
3294-3294
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2886401819
Cited by
2,236
References
121
Citations by year
2026: 414 · 2025: 402 · 2024: 366 · 2023: 288 · 2022: 277 · 2021: 257 · 2020: 166 · 2019: 59 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1
FWCI
12.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Technical University of Denmark, DTU Orbit (Technical University of Denmark, DTU) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
Innovationsfonden (0603‐00487B)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Nutrition and Physiology
Keywords
tryptophan catabolites, gut microbiota, aryl hydrocarbon receptor, intestinal epithelial barrier, gastrointestinal motility, gastrointestinal hormones, anti-inflammatory activity, oxidative stress, microbial metabolites, intestinal homeostasis
MeSH terms
Animals, Bacteria, Digestive System, Disease, Health, Humans, Tryptophan, Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon

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