Enteroendocrine cells sense bacterial tryptophan catabolites to activate enteric and vagal neuronal pathways.

Enteroendocrine cells sense bacterial tryptophan catabolites to activate enteric and vagal neuronal pathways.
Cell Host Microbe. 2020 Dec 16;:
Authors: Ye L, Bae M, Cassilly CD, Jabba SV, Thorpe DW, Martin AM, Lu HY, Wang J, Thompson JD, Lickwar CR, Poss KD, Keating DJ, Jordt SE, Clardy J, Liddle RA, Rawls JF
Abstract
The intestinal epithelium senses nutritional and microbial stimuli using epithelial sensory enteroendocrine cells (EEC). EECs communicate nutritional information to the nervous system, but whether they also relay signals from intestinal microbes remains unknown. Using in vivo real-time measurements of EEC and nervous system activity in zebrafish, we discovered that the bacteria Edwardsiella tarda activate EECs through the receptor transient receptor potential ankyrin A1 (Trpa1) and increase intestinal motility. Microbial, pharmacological, or optogenetic activation of Trpa1+EECs directly stimulates vagal sensory ganglia and activates cholinergic enteric neurons by secreting the neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). A subset of indole derivatives of tryptophan catabolism produced by E. tarda and other gut microbes activates zebrafish EEC Trpa1 signaling. These catabolites also directly stimulate human and mouse Trpa1 and intestinal 5-HT secretion. These results establish a molecular pathway by which EECs regulate enteric and vagal neuronal pathways in response to microbial signals.
PMID: 33352109 [PubMed -...

Source: Cell Host and Microbe - December 16, 2020 Category: Microbiology Authors: Ye L, Bae M, Cassilly CD, Jabba SV, Thorpe DW, Martin AM, Lu HY, Wang J, Thompson JD, Lickwar CR, Poss KD, Keating DJ, Jordt SE, Clardy J, Liddle RA, Rawls JF Tags: Cell Host Microbe Source Type: research