<i>Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron</i> ameliorates mouse hepatic steatosis through regulating gut microbial composition, gut-liver folate and unsaturated fatty acids metabolism

Abstract

Gut microbiota plays an essential role in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), making the gut-liver axis a potential therapeutic strategy. Bacteroides genus, the enriched gut symbionts, has shown promise in treating fatty liver. However, further investigation is needed to identify specific beneficial Bacteroides strains for metabolic disorders in NAFLD and elucidate their underlying mechanisms. In this study, we observed a positive correlation between the abundance of <i>Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron</i> (<i>B. theta</i>) and the alleviation of metabolic syndrome in the early and end stages of NAFLD. Administration of <i>B. theta</i> to HFD-fed mice for 12 weeks reduced body weight and fat accumulation, decreased hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance, and prevented hepatic steatohepatitis and liver injury. Notably, <i>B. theta</i> did not affect these indicators in low-fat diet (LFD)-fed mice and exhibited good safety. Mechanistically, <i>B. theta</i> regulated gut microbial composition, characterized by a decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in HFD-Fed mice. It also increased gut-liver folate levels and hepatic metabolites, alleviating metabolic dysfunction. Additionally, treatment with <i>B. theta</i> increased the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acid in the mouse liver, offering a widely reported benefit for NAFLD improvement. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that <i>B. theta</i> ameliorates NAFLD by regulating gut microbial composition, enhancing gut-liver folate and unsaturated fatty acid metabolism, highlighting the therapeutic role of <i>B. theta</i> as a potential probiotic for NAFLD.