Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Improves Lipid Metabolism Disorder and Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetic Mice

Abstract

<b>Purpose:</b> Additional effective therapeutic strategies for Type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients are urgently needed<i>.</i> Gut microbiota plays an important role in T2D development and is a promising treatment strategy for T2D patients. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (<i>F. prausnitzii</i>) is regarded as one of the most important bacterial indicators for a healthy gut, but the mechanisms of its anti-diabetic properties are still unclear. <b>Methods and Results:</b> The abundance of <i>F. prausnitzii</i> in feces of patients with T2D was detected by using qPCR. The effects of <i>F. prausnitzii</i> on glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance (IR), dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis and inflammation were investigated in type 2 diabetic (T2D) db/db mice. We also investigated <i>F. prausnitzii</i> in people. Our results showed that the abundance of <i>F. prausnitzii</i> was significantly lower in T2D patients compared to healthy subjects. In T2D mice, we found that <i>F. prausnitzii</i> treatment significantly decreased fasting blood glucose and IR index, indicating improved glucose intolerance as well as IR. Furthermore, based on evaluation of lipid-regulating enzyme activities and proinflammatory cytokine levels, <i>F. prausnitzii</i> was not only able to improve inflammation in both adipose tissue and liver, but also ameliorate hepatic steatosis through inhibiting the activity of hepatic lipogenic enzymes. <b>Conclusion:</b> These results suggested that <i>F. prausnitzii</i> might serve as a therapeutic option for T2D by improved IR, lipid metabolism and inflammation.