Gut microbiota affects lens and retinal lipid composition

Exp Eye Res. 2009 Nov;89(5):604-7. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2009.06.018. Epub 2009 Jul 8.

Abstract

The gut microbiota affects host lipid metabolism and is considered an environmental factor that contributes to development of obesity. To investigate whether the gut microbiota affects the eye lipidome, we performed comprehensive lipidomic profiling of lens and retina from conventionally raised and germ-free mice. Conventionally raised mice had diminished phosphatidylcholines in the lens and elevated ethanolamine plasmalogens in the retina. Diminishment of lens phosphatidylcholines in the presence of gut microbiota suggests that the conventionally raised mice are exposed over time to more oxidative stress than germ-free mice. Consistent with this, their lifespan is also shorter. Our findings may open a new area of investigation how modulation of gut microbiota affects the eye health.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / microbiology*
  • Germ-Free Life
  • Lens, Crystalline / metabolism*
  • Lipid Metabolism*
  • Longevity
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Phosphatidylcholines / metabolism
  • Plasmalogens / metabolism
  • Retina / metabolism*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Plasmalogens
  • phosphatidal ethanolamines