Intestinal epithelial TLR4 knock out induces sex-specific effects on gut barrier and microbiome in an activity-based anorexia model - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #TLR4
- #anorexia-nervosa
- #gut-microbiome
- The study investigates the role of intestinal epithelial TLR4 knockout (TLR4IEC-/-) in activity-based anorexia (ABA) mice, focusing on sex-specific effects on gut barrier, inflammation, and microbiome.
- TLR4IEC-/- led to more pronounced changes in male control mice, including reduced expression of inflammatory factors, tight junction proteins, and fecal calprotectin levels.
- Female control TLR4IEC-/- mice showed increased expression of inflammatory markers and one gut barrier-related target.
- Microbiome alterations in TLR4IEC-/- males included increased Bacillota phylum and Deltaproteobacteria class, while females showed an increase in Alcaligenaceae genus.
- ABA-induced changes, such as increased Tjp1 expression and Lactobacillus abundance, were mitigated by TLR4IEC-/- in both sexes.
- The study highlights sex-specific intestinal responses to TLR4IEC-/- and suggests further research to understand underlying mechanisms.