High-Fat Diet Consumption Induces Microbiota Dysbiosis and Intestinal Inflammation in Zebrafish

• Published in: Microbial ecology Vol. 76; no. 4; pp. 1089 - 1101
• Main Authors: Arias-Jayo, Nerea, Abecia, Leticia, Alonso-Sáez, Laura, Ramirez-Garcia, Andoni, Rodriguez, Alfonso, Pardo, Miguel A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer Science + Business Media 01-11-2018; Springer US; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - metabolism; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - drug effects; Bacteria - genetics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Community composition; Composition; Danio rerio; Diet; Diet, High-Fat - adverse effects; Disease Models, Animal; DNA; Dysbacteriosis; Dysbiosis - chemically induced; Ecology; Freshwater fishes; Gastrointestinal Microbiome - drug effects; Gastrointestinal Microbiome - genetics; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Gene sequencing; Genes; Genes, Bacterial; Geoecology/Natural Processes; Goblet Cells - metabolism; High fat diet; HOST MICROBE INTERACTIONS; Immune System; Inflammation; Intestinal flora; Intestinal microflora; Intestine; Intestines; Intestines - microbiology; Intestines - pathology; Life Sciences; Lipid metabolism; Lipids; Metabolism; Microbial Ecology; Microbiology; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Mucin; Mucins - metabolism; Nature Conservation; Nucleotide sequence; Overnutrition; PCR; Receptors; Relative abundance; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; rRNA 16S; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Zebrafish; Zebrafish - immunology; Zebrafish - microbiology; Zebrafish; Microbiota; Inflammation; High-fat diet
• ISSN: 0095-3628; 1432-184X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00248-018-1198-9

Energy-dense foods and overnutrition represent major starting points altering lipid metabolism, systemic inflammation and gut microbiota. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) over a period of 25 days on intestinal microbiota and inflammation in zebrafish. Microbial composition of HFD-fed animals was analysed and compared to controls by 16S rRNA sequencing and quantitative PCR. The expression level on several genes related to inflammation was tested. Furthermore, microscopic assessment of the intestine was performed in both conditions. The consumption of the HFD resulted in microbial dysbiosis, characterised by an increase in the relative abundance of the phylum Bacteroidetes. Moreover, an emerging intestinal inflammation via NF-κβ activation was confirmed by the overexpression of several genes related to signalling receptors, antimicrobial metabolism and the inflammatory cascade. The intestinal barrier was also damaged, with an increase of goblet cell mucin production. This is the first study performed in zebrafish which suggests that the consumption of a diet enriched with 10% fat changes the intestinal microbial community composition, which was correlated with low-grade inflammation.