Gut Commensal Phocaeicola vulgatus AF107-22 Alleviates Obesity-Induced Metabolic Syndrome via Promoting Gut Microbiota-Derived Spermidine Synthesis.

The abundance of P. vulgatus is significantly negatively correlated with obesity-induced metabolic syndrome and its complications in human metagenomic data.

• Correlation analysis was performed using human metagenomic datasets to assess the relationship between P. vulgatus abundance and MetS.
• P. vulgatus abundance showed significant negative correlations with MetS-related clinical parameters including obesity indicators, inflammation markers, and hepatic steatosis.
• This finding motivated subsequent experimental investigation of P. vulgatus as a potential probiotic intervention for MetS.

Oral gavage of P. vulgatus AF107-22 significantly ameliorated high-fat-diet-induced metabolic syndrome symptoms in mice.

• Mice were subjected to a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce metabolic syndrome, then treated with P. vulgatus via oral gavage.
• P. vulgatus treatment significantly reduced body weight in HFD-fed mice.
• Treatment also reduced systemic inflammation and hepatic steatosis compared to HFD control mice.
• The specific strain used was P. vulgatus AF107-22.

P. vulgatus treatment significantly enhanced the production of gut microbiota-derived spermidine and spermine as revealed by multiomics analyses.

• Multiomics analyses were employed to identify metabolic changes associated with P. vulgatus treatment.
• Both spermidine and spermine levels were significantly elevated following P. vulgatus oral gavage in HFD mice.
• These polyamines were identified as gut microbiota-derived metabolites, suggesting P. vulgatus modulates gut microbial polyamine biosynthesis.
• The findings bridge commensal probiotic activity with spermidine metabolism as a potential mechanism of action.

Population-based analysis confirmed a strong negative correlation between plasma spermidine levels and metabolic syndrome progression.

• A population-based analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between circulating spermidine and MetS in humans.
• Plasma spermidine levels were strongly negatively correlated with MetS progression.
• The authors conclude that plasma spermidine levels may serve as potential biomarkers for MetS.
• This finding supports the translational relevance of the gut microbiota-spermidine axis identified in the mouse experiments.

P. vulgatus plays an important role in modulating the composition and metabolism of gut microbiota in the context of obesity-induced metabolic syndrome.

• P. vulgatus is described as a gut commensal bacterium with broader effects on gut microbiota composition beyond its direct metabolic contributions.
• Multiomics analyses were used to characterize its effects on gut microbiota-derived metabolites.
• The study positions P. vulgatus as having implications for treating obesity-induced MetS through microbiota modulation.
• Therapeutic strategies targeting gut microbiota, including P. vulgatus supplementation, are described as holding 'considerable promise' for MetS treatment.