Gut Microbiome

Muribaculum intestinale negatively impacts glioma growth in mice through the toll-like receptor 2.

TL;DR

M. intestinale induces a pro-inflammatory response in glioma bearing mice, inhibiting tumor growth via TLR2-dependent signaling.

Key Findings

Glioma growth in mice is inversely correlated with the relative abundance of Muribaculum intestinale in feces.

  • Relative abundance of M. intestinale was measured in fecal samples from glioma-bearing mice
  • The inverse correlation was identified through analysis of gut microbiota composition during glioma progression
  • This finding motivated subsequent experimental investigation of M. intestinale administration

M. intestinale administration reduced glioma growth in mice.

  • Tumor size or volume was measured following oral administration of M. intestinale to glioma-bearing mice
  • Reduction in glioma growth was observed compared to control groups not receiving M. intestinale
  • This anti-tumor effect was one of four major outcomes attributed to M. intestinale administration

M. intestinale administration induced an inflammatory environment in the gut.

  • Gut inflammation was assessed following M. intestinale administration in glioma-bearing mice
  • This pro-inflammatory gut response was identified as one of the primary effects of M. intestinale treatment
  • The inflammatory environment in the gut was associated with downstream systemic and intratumoral immune changes

M. intestinale administration increased the pro-inflammatory profile of tumor-associated microglial cells and the frequency of CD8+ T cells in glioma-bearing mice.

  • Tumor-associated microglial cells exhibited an increased pro-inflammatory profile following M. intestinale treatment
  • CD8+ T cell frequency was elevated in mice administered M. intestinale compared to controls
  • These intratumoral immune changes were consistent with an anti-tumor immune response

M. intestinale administration increased peripheral TNF-α levels in glioma-bearing mice.

  • Peripheral TNF-α was measured as a marker of systemic inflammatory response
  • Elevated TNF-α levels were observed following M. intestinale administration
  • This systemic cytokine elevation was one of four major effects attributed to M. intestinale treatment

The effects induced by M. intestinale administration were significantly attenuated upon TLR2 silencing using TLR2-targeting siRNA.

  • TLR2 was silenced using TLR2-targeting siRNA in glioma-bearing mice treated with M. intestinale
  • Attenuation of effects included reduction in the anti-tumor and pro-inflammatory responses induced by M. intestinale
  • TLR2, as a pattern-recognition receptor, detects microbial-associated molecular patterns and orchestrates host immune responses to infection
  • These results establish TLR2-dependent signaling as the mechanistic pathway through which M. intestinale exerts its effects

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Citation

Marrocco F, Cocozza G, Antonangeli F, Khan R, Pietropaolo G, Elkihel A, et al.. (2026). Muribaculum intestinale negatively impacts glioma growth in mice through the toll-like receptor 2.. Gut microbes. https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2026.2623349