Cited by 80Gut microbiota and healthCircadian rhythm and melatoninGastrointestinal motility and disorders

Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis Induced by Decreasing Endogenous Melatonin Mediates the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease and Obesity

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Zhang, Boqi, Chen, Tong, Cao, Maosheng, Yuan, Chenfeng, Reiter, Russel J., Zhao, Zijiao, Zhao, Yun, Chen, Lu +4 more·2022·Frontiers in Immunology

Abstract

Lifestyle choices, external environment, aging, and other factors influence the synthesis of melatonin. Although the physiological functions of melatonin have been widely studied in relation to specific organs, the systemic effects of endogenous melatonin reduction has not been reported. This study evaluates the systemic changes and possible pathogenic risks in an endogenous melatonin reduction (EMR) mouse model deficient in the rate limiting enzyme in melatonin production, arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (Aanat) gene. Using this model, we identified a new relationship between melatonin, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and gut microbiota. Systematic changes were evaluated using multi-omics analysis. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was performed to examine the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenic risks of EMR. EMR mice exhibited a pan-metabolic disorder, with significant transcriptome changes in 11 organs, serum metabolome alterations as well as microbiota dysbiosis. Microbiota dysbiosis was accompanied by increased gut permeability along with gut and systemic inflammation. Correlation analysis revealed that systemic inflammation may be related to the increase of Ruminiclostridium_5 relative abundance. 8-month-old EMR mice had AD-like phenotypes, including Iba-1 activation, A β protein deposition and decreased spatial memory ability. Moreover, EMR mice showed decreased anti stress ability, under high-fat diet, EMR mice had greater body weight and more obvious hepatic steatosis compared with WT group. FMT improved gut permeability, systemic inflammation, and AD-related phenotypes, while reducing obesity in EMR mice. Our findings suggest EMR causes systemic changes mediated by gut microbiota dysbiosis, which may be a pathogenic factor for AD and obesity, we further proved the gut microbiota is a potential target for the prevention and treatment of AD and obesity.

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Authors
Zhang, B., Chen, T., Cao, M., Yuan, C., Reiter, R. J., Zhao, Z., Zhao, Y., Chen, L., Fan, W., Wang, X., Zhou, X., & Li, C.
Affiliations
  • Jilin University (CN)
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center (US)
Corresponding author
  • Zhou, Xu
  • Li, Chunjin
Venue
Frontiers in Immunology
Published
2022-05-10
Volume
13
Pages
900132-900132
ISSN
1664-3224 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4229446879
Cited by
80
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 6
FWCI
6.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Frontiers in Immunology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Natural Science Foundation of China (32172726 , 31301969)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
Keywords
melatonin, arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase, gut dysbiosis, Alzheimer's disease, obesity, intestinal permeability, systemic inflammation, amyloid-beta deposition, hepatic steatosis, high-fat diet, fecal microbiota transplantation, stress response, multi-omics
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Alzheimer Disease, Animals, Inflammation, Melatonin, Obesity, Mice, Dysbiosis

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