Abstract
The association between gut microbiota and circulating zonulin level, a marker of intestinal permeability, has not been studied yet. The aim of the study is the assessment of plasma zonulin, haptoglobin and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) levels in relation to composition of gut microbiota in obese and normal weight subjects. Circulating inflammation markers, such as TNF-α, sTNFR1, sTNFR2, IL-6, zonulin, and haptoglobin levels were measured and semiquantitative analysis of gut microbiota composition was carried out in 50 obese and 30 normal weight subjects without concomitant diseases. Higher circulating zonulin, TNF-α, sTNFR1, sTNFR2, and IL-6 levels were found in the obese subjects. Plasma zonulin level correlated positively with age (r = 0.43, P < 0.001), body mass (r = 0.30, P < 0.01), BMI (r = 0.33, P < 0.01), fat mass and fat percentage (r = 0.31, P < 0.01 and r = 0.23, P < 0.05, resp.). Positive correlations between bacterial colony count and sTNFR1 (r = 0.33, P < 0.01) and plasma zonulin (r = 0.26, P < 0.05) but not haptoglobin levels were found. Additionally, plasma zonulin level was proportional to daily energy intake (r = 0.27, P < 0.05) and serum glucose concentration (r = 0.18, P < 0.05) and inversely proportional to diet protein percentage (r = −0.23, P < 0.05). Gut microbiota-related systemic microinflammation in the obese is reflected by circulating zonulin level, a potential marker of interstitial permeability.
Highlights
The results of numerous studies suggested that changes in the composition of gut microbiota are factors participating in the development of obesity by obtaining extra energy from the portion of food, reduced expression of FIAF in the enterocytes with inhibitory activity on intestinal lipoprotein lipase, and the increased release of peptide YY that slows the intestinal motility [1]
Adipocytes and even more macrophages infiltrating visceral adipose tissue in obese subjects are the source of circulating proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6 [5, 6]
The aim of the study is the assessment of plasma zonulin, haptoglobin, and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL6) levels in relation to composition of gut microbiota in obese and normal weight subjects
Summary
The results of numerous studies suggested that changes in the composition of gut microbiota are factors participating in the development of obesity by obtaining extra energy from the portion of food, reduced expression of FIAF (fasting-induced adipocyte factor) in the enterocytes with inhibitory activity on intestinal lipoprotein lipase, and the increased release of peptide YY that slows the intestinal motility [1]. Especially visceral, is associated with systemic microinflammation [2,3,4]. In the recent years it was suggested that alteration in gut microbiota composition followed by an impairment of intestinal wall integrity is additional factor escalating systemic microinflammation, at least in the obese [7].
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