A Comprehensive Understanding of Dietary Effects on C. elegans Physiology

SummaryDiet has been shown to play an important role in human physiology. It is a predominant exogenous factor regulating the composition of gut microbiota, and dietary intervention holds promise for treatment of diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and malnutrition. Furthermore, it was reported that diet has significant effects on physiological processes ofC. elegans, including reproduction, fat storage, and aging. To reveal novel signaling pathways responsive to different diets,C. elegans and its bacterial diet were used as an interspecies model system to mimic the interaction between host and gut microbiota. Most signaling pathways identified inC. elegans are highly conserved across different species, including humans. A better understanding of these pathways can, therefore, help to develop interventions for human diseases. In this article, we summarize recent achievements on molecular mechanisms underlying the response ofC. elegans to different diets and discuss their relevance to human health.
Source: Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology -- Medical Sciences -- - Category: Research Source Type: research