The intestinal bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila strengthens intestinal health through a special protein that promotes the proliferation and regeneration of intestinal stem cells. This could also open up new therapeutic approaches.
A South Korean research team led by experts from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) examined the molecules secreted by A. muciniphila and identified the protein Amuc_1409 as particularly beneficial for intestinal health. The promising results have been published in the specialist magazine “Nature Communications”.
Interaction through proteins?
It is now undisputed that the intestinal flora has a significant influence on our health. However, the biological processes through which individual intestinal bacteria, fungi and viruses exert their effects remain unclear in many areas.
Proteins secreted by the microbiome act as important mediators for the interaction between host and microbiome through interactions with the host cells in the intestine, the researchers explain. But which proteins have which effect is still poorly understood.
Akkermansia muciniphila im Focus
For the intestinal bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila, previous research has already shown evidence that this benefits intestinal health, for example by promoting the development of the intestinal epithelium and improving the integrity of the intestinal barrier.
Therefore, in the new study, the researchers tried to determine the functional molecules secreted by A. muciniphila that can have a positive effect on intestinal health. They came across the protein Amuc_1409.
This is how the protein Amuc_1409 works
According to the researchers, further studies on so-called intestinal organoids and mice showed that Amuc_1409 increases the proliferation and regeneration of intestinal stem cells.
The protein achieves its effect by triggering the breakdown of the E-cadherin/β-catenin complex through interaction with E-cadherin, which leads to the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, the team reports.
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New therapeutic options
“As far as we know, this study is the first to show that A. muciniphila-derived Amuc_1409 plays a role in the regenerative function of intestinal stem cells via its direct interaction with E-cadherin,” emphasize the researchers.
The findings could also open avenues to develop a new probiotic product that improves gut health by regulating intestinal homeostasis, particularly in gut damage caused by radiation, chemotherapy drugs or aging, the research team hopes. (fp)
