Abstract
Gut microbiota affects not only host immune system but also host nutrient acquisition and energy regulation, and thereby influencing the development of obesity and diabetes. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), produced by the gut microbial fermentation of dietary fiber, are essential host energy sources and signal molecules via G-protein coupled receptor GPR41 and GPR43. We report that these SCFAs receptors are involved in host energy homeostasis, GPR41 regulates sympathetic activity, and GPR43 regulates adipose-insulin signaling by sensing SCFAs. These results indicate that gut microbial metabolites regulate host homeostasis via novel molecular signal mechanism.
