Intestinal barrier function and immune homeostasis are missing links in obesity and type 2 diabetes development
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Date
Authors
Riedel, Sylvia
Pheiffer, Carmen
Johnson, Rabia
Louw, Johan
Muller, Christo J. F.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Frontiers Media S.A.
Abstract
Noncommunicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), place a burden on healthcare
systems worldwide. The rising prevalence of obesity, a major risk factor for T2D, is mainly
attributed to the adoption of Westernized diets and lifestyle, which cause metabolic
dysfunction and insulin resistance. Moreover, diet may also induce changes in the
microbiota composition, thereby affecting intestinal immunity. The critical role of
intestinal immunity and intestinal barrier function in the development of T2D is
increasingly acknowledged, however, limited studies have investigated the link between
intestinal function and metabolic disease. In this review, studies reporting specific roles of
the intestinal immune system and intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in metabolic disease are
highlighted. Innate chemokine signaling, eosinophils, immunoglobulin A (IgA), T helper (Th)
17 cells and their cytokines were associated with obesity and/or dysregulated glucose
homeostasis. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) emerged as critical modulators of obesity and
glucose homeostasis through their effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) signaling
and decontamination. Furthermore, IECs create a link between microbial metabolites
and whole-body metabolic function. Future in depth studies of the intestinal immune
system and IECs may provide new opportunities and targets to develop treatments and
prevention strategies for obesity and T2D.
Description
Keywords
Intestinal immune system, Intestinal barrier function, Obesity, Leaky gut, Intestinal epithelial cells, Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs)
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Riedel, S., Pheiffer, C., Johnson, R., Louw, J. & Muller, C.J.F. (2022)
Intestinal Barrier Function and
Immune Homeostasis Are Missing
Links in Obesity and Type 2
Diabetes Development.
Frontiers in Endocrinology 12:833544.
doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.833544.