An Update on the Role and Potential Molecules in Relation to Ruminococcus gnavus in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus

Jinni Hong; Tingting Fu; Weizhen Liu; Yu Du; Junmin Bu; Guojian Wei; Miao Yu; Yanshan Lin; Cunyun Min; Datao Lin

doi:10.2147/DMSO.S456173

An Update on the Role and Potential Molecules in Relation to Ruminococcus gnavus in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2024 Mar 11:17:1235-1248. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S456173. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Jinni Hong^{1

2}, Tingting Fu^{1

2}, Weizhen Liu^{1

2}, Yu Du^{1

2}, Junmin Bu^{1

2}, Guojian Wei^{1

2}, Miao Yu^{1

2}, Yanshan Lin^{1

2}, Cunyun Min^{1

2}, Datao Lin³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China.
² Guangdong Provincial Institute of Geriatric, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China.
³ Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Ruminococcus gnavus (R. gnavus) is a gram-positive anaerobe commonly resides in the human gut microbiota. The advent of metagenomics has linked R. gnavus with various diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, and diabetes mellitus (DM), which has become a growing area of investigation. The initial focus of research primarily centered on assessing the abundance of R. gnavus and its potential association with disease presentation, taking into account variations in sample size, sequencing and analysis methods. However, recent investigations have shifted towards elucidating the underlying mechanistic pathways through which R. gnavus may contribute to disease manifestation. In this comprehensive review, we aim to provide an updated synthesis of the current literature on R. gnavus in the context of IBD, obesity, and DM. We critically analyze relevant studies and summarize the potential molecular mediators implicated in the association between R. gnavus and these diseases. Across numerous studies, various molecules such as methylation-controlled J (MCJ), glucopolysaccharides, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), interleukin(IL)-10, IL-17, and capric acid have been proposed as potential contributors to the link between R. gnavus and IBD. Similarly, in the realm of obesity, molecules such as hydrogen peroxide, butyrate, and UDCA have been suggested as potential mediators, while glycine ursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA) has been implicated in the connection between R. gnavus and DM. Furthermore, it is imperative to emphasize the necessity for additional studies to evaluate the potential efficacy of targeting pathways associated with R. gnavus as a viable strategy for managing these diseases. These findings have significantly expanded our understanding of the functional role of R. gnavus in the context of IBD, obesity, and DM. This review aims to offer updated insights into the role and potential mechanisms of R. gnavus, as well as potential strategies for the treatment of these diseases.

Keywords: Ruminococcus gnavus; diabetes mellitus; inflammatory bowel disease; obesity.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82202560), the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (No.2022A1515110655), the Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau of Guangdong Province (Nos. 20231003 and 20223001), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (Nos. 2023A1515011458 and 2021A1515220050), the Science and Technology Projects in Guangzhou (No. 2024A04J4314), the National Parasitic Resource Center of China (No. NPRC-2019-194-30), and the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (No. SL2022A04J00042).