Cited by 267Gut microbiota and healthAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ResearchGastrointestinal motility and disorders

Leaky intestine and impaired microbiome in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mouse model

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Wu, Shaoping, Yi, Jianxun, Zhang, Yong-guo, Zhou, Jingsong, Sun, Jun·2015·Physiological Reports

Abstract

Emerging evidence has demonstrated that intestinal homeostasis and the microbiome play essential roles in neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive loss of motor neurons and muscle atrophy. Currently, there is no effective treatment. Most patients die within 3-5 years due to respiratory paralysis. Although the death of motor neurons is a hallmark of ALS, other organs may also contribute to the disease progression. We examined the gut of an ALS mouse model, G93A, which expresses mutant superoxide dismutase (SOD1(G93A)), and discovered a damaged tight junction structure and increased permeability with a significant reduction in the expression levels of tight junction protein ZO-1 and the adherens junction protein E-cadherin. Furthermore, our data demonstrated increased numbers of abnormal Paneth cells in the intestine of G93A mice. Paneth cells are specialized intestinal epithelial cells that can sense microbes and secrete antimicrobial peptides, thus playing key roles in host innate immune responses and shaping the gut microbiome. A decreased level of the antimicrobial peptides defensin 5 alpha was indeed found in the ALS intestine. These changes were associated with a shifted profile of the intestinal microbiome, including reduced levels of Butyrivibrio Fibrisolvens, Escherichia coli, and Fermicus, in G93A mice. The relative abundance of bacteria was shifted in G93A mice compared to wild-type mice. Principal coordinate analysis indicated a difference in fecal microbial communities between ALS and wild-type mice. Taken together, our study suggests a potential novel role of the intestinal epithelium and microbiome in the progression of ALS.

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Authors
Wu, S., Yi, J., Zhang, Y.-G., Zhou, J., & Sun, J.
Affiliations
  • Rush University Medical Center (US)
  • Kansas City University (US)
  • Department of Biochemistry; Rush University Medical Center; Chicago Illinois
Corresponding author
  • Zhou, Jingsong
  • Sun, Jun
Venue
Physiological Reports
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2015-04
Volume
3
Issue
4
Pages
e12356
ISSN
2051-817X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2096776344
Cited by
267
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 2
FWCI
6.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Physiological Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • NIDDK (KO1 DK075386, 1R03DK089010-01)
  • NIAMS/National Institutes of Health (R01 AR057404)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
Keywords
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, intestinal permeability, gut microbiota, SOD1 G93A mouse model, tight junctions, ZO-1, E-cadherin, Paneth cells, antimicrobial peptides, intestinal epithelium, neurodegeneration, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Escherichia coli, Firmicutes

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