Abstract
Pu-erh tea displays cholesterol-lowering properties, but the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. Theabrownin is one of the most active and abundant pigments in Pu-erh tea. Here, we show that theabrownin alters the gut microbiota in mice and humans, predominantly suppressing microbes associated with bile-salt hydrolase (BSH) activity. Theabrownin increases the levels of ileal conjugated bile acids (BAs) which, in turn, inhibit the intestinal FXR-FGF15 signaling pathway, resulting in increased hepatic production and fecal excretion of BAs, reduced hepatic cholesterol, and decreased lipogenesis. The inhibition of intestinal FXR-FGF15 signaling is accompanied by increased gene expression of enzymes in the alternative BA synthetic pathway, production of hepatic chenodeoxycholic acid, activation of hepatic FXR, and hepatic lipolysis. Our results shed light into the mechanisms behind the cholesterol- and lipid-lowering effects of Pu-erh tea, and suggest that decreased intestinal BSH microbes and/or decreased FXR-FGF15 signaling may be potential anti-hypercholesterolemia and anti-hyperlipidemia therapies.
Highlights
Pu-erh tea displays cholesterol-lowering properties, but the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated
The results of this study show a mechanistic link between theabrownin, the characteristic component of Pu-erh tea, and changes in the gut microbiota, Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) signaling and bile acids (BAs) synthesis in the modulation of cholesterol levels in serum and liver
The results revealed that the serum levels of tauro-conjugated BAs were dramatically elevated, most significantly, tauro-chendoxycholic acid (TCDCA) and tauro-ursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) in mice, and the glycine-conjugated BAs, glyco-chenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA) and glycol-ursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA), were significantly increased in human subjects (Fig. 4a, b)
Summary
Pu-erh tea displays cholesterol-lowering properties, but the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. The anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemic effects have been well documented by numerous studies in which Pu-erh tea consumption reduced body weight, weight of adipose pads, serum and hepatic levels of total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in rats, mice, and human subjects[2]. Most of these studies were observational in nature and the underlying mechanisms for these effects have not been determined. The gut microbiota-BA interaction plays a key role in regulating energy harvest, lipid metabolism as well as cholesterol and BA homeostasis[15,23,24]
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