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Biology subjects

Yissachar, N.

Publications and source records attributed to Yissachar, N..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Gut-specific H3R signaling orchestrates microglia-dependent resolution of peripheral inflammation

Chronic inflammatory diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been described to cause central nervous system (CNS) activation. Less is known about environmental factors that enable the CNS to suppress peripheral inflammation in RA. Here, we identified gut microbiota-derived histamine as such factor. We show that low levels of histamine activate the enteric nervous system, increase inhibitory neurotransmitter concentrations in the spinal cord and restore homeostatic microglia, thereby reducing inflammation in the joints. Selective histamine 3 receptor (H3R) signaling in the intestine is critical for this effect, as systemic and intrathecal application did not show effects. Microglia depletion or pharmacological silencing of local nerve fibers impaired oral H3R agonist-induced pro-resolving effects on arthritis. Moreover, therapeutic supplementation of the SCFA propionate identified one way to expand local intestinal histamine concentrations in mice and humans. Thus, we define a gut-CNS-joint axis pathway where microbiota-derived histamine initiates the resolution of arthritis via the CNS. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=109 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/603031v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (54K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@c217b8org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@a340ceorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1f3c1d8org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@3b6fc9_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG O_LIGut microbiota-derived histamine activates enteric neurons via H3R C_LIO_LILocal intestinal H3R activation induces shift to homeostatic microglia in the spinal cord C_LIO_LICNS controlled decrease in endothelial leakiness resolves synovial inflammation C_LI

immunology↗

Optogenetics-integrated gut organ culture system connects enteric neurons dynamics and gut homeostasis

The enteric nervous system (ENS) senses microbiota-derived signals and orchestrates mucosal immunity and epithelial barrier functions, in health and disease. However, mechanistic dissections of intestinal neuro-immune-microbiota communications remain challenging and existing research methods limit experimental controllability and throughput. Here, we present a novel optogenetics-integrated gut organ culture system that enables real-time, whole-tissue stimulation of specific ENS lineages, allowing for detailed analysis of their functional impact. We demonstrate that optogenetic activation of enteric cholinergic neurons rapidly modulates intestinal physiology. Interestingly, distinct neuronal firing patterns differentially modulate neuro-immunological gene expression and epithelial barrier integrity. Furthermore, diverse enteric neuronal lineages exert distinct regulatory roles. While cholinergic activation promotes gene-sets associated with type-2 immunity, tachykininergic enteric neurons differentially control mucosal defense programs. Remarkably, luminal introduction of the immunomodulatory bacterium C. ramosum significantly remodeled cholinergic-induced neuro-immunological transcription. These findings suggest that complex combinatorial signals delivered by gut microbes and enteric neurons are locally integrated to fine-tune intestinal immunity and barrier defense. Collectively, we provide a powerful platform for systematic discovery and mechanistic exploration of functional neuroimmune connections, and their potential modulation by drugs, microbes, or metabolites. Short abstractThe enteric nervous system senses microbiota-derived signals and orchestrates mucosal immunity and epithelial barrier functions. Mechanistic dissections of intestinal neuro-immune-microbiota communications remain challenging. We developed an optogenetics-integrated gut organ culture system for real-time neuronal stimulation and analysis. We revealed neuronal-specific activity patterns, which differentially regulate intestinal transcription and epithelial barrier integrity. Collectively, we provide a powerful platform to test neuroimmune connections and their potential modulation by drugs, microbes, or metabolites.

neuroscience↗

Ex vivo intestinal permeability assay (X-IPA) for tracking barrier function dynamics

The intestinal epithelial barrier facilitates homeostatic host-microbiota interactions and immunological tolerance. However, mechanistic dissections of barrier dynamics following luminal stimulation pose a substantial challenge. Here, we describe an ex-vivo intestinal permeability assay, X-IPA, for quantitative analysis of gut permeability dynamics at the whole-tissue level. We demonstrate that specific gut microbes and metabolites induce rapid, dose-dependent increases to gut permeability, thus providing a powerful approach for precise investigation of barrier functions.

microbiology↗

Diet-induced modifications to human microbiome reshape colonic homeostasis in irritable bowel syndrome

Changes in microbiome composition have been associated with a wide array of human diseases, turning the human microbiota into an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Yet clinical translation of these findings requires the establishment of causative connections between specific microbial taxa and their functional impact on host tissues. Here, we colonized gut organ cultures with longitudinal microbiota samples collected from newly-diagnosed and therapy-naive irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients under low-FODMAP (fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono- saccharides and Polyols) diet. We show that post-diet microbiota regulates intestinal expression of inflammatory and neuro-muscular gene-sets. Specifically, we identify Bifidobacterium adolescentis as a diet-sensitive pathobiont that alters tight junction integrity and disrupts gut barrier functions. Collectively, we present a unique pathway discovery approach for mechanistic dissection and identification of functional diet-host-microbiota modules. Our data support the hypothesis that the gut microbiota mediates the beneficial effects of low-FODMAP diet, and reinforce the potential feasibility of microbiome based-therapies in IBS.

microbiology↗