Latest news with #Bohórquez
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Your colon's got a ‘sixth sense' — here's how it can lead to weight loss
Talk about a 'gut feeling.' New research from Duke University highlights the role of neuropods, specialized sensory cells in the colon that act like taste buds for the gut. Neuropods 'sample' nutrients like sugars and bacterial byproducts and quickly send signals to the brain, guiding food choices and even influencing when it's time to stop eating. Researchers call the phenomenon 'neurobiotic sense' — a 'hidden sixth sense.' They hope it paves the way for new obesity treatments and provides insight into mental health disorders affected by diet. 'It's similar to how we use our other senses — sight, sound, smell, taste and touch — to interpret our world,' the study authors said. 'But this one operates from an unexpected place: The gut.' Scientists have long known about the gut-brain connection, the major communication highway that affects digestion, mood and overall well-being. For their part, the colon's neuropod cells can warn the brain of bacterial intruders. The new Duke study — published Wednesday in the journal Nature — focuses on flagellin, a key structural protein that enables bacteria to move. Some of our gut bacteria release flagellin when we eat. Neuropod cells use a special receptor called TLR5 to recognize flagellin and relay the information through the vagus nerve — the main link between the gut and the brain. The researchers examined how this works in mice. They had one set of mice fast overnight before giving them a small dose of flagellin from Salmonella Typhimurium, a well-studied type of bacteria that causes infections. The mice ate less. They repeated these steps with mice that had their TLR5 receptor 'knocked out.' These mice continued to eat and ended up gaining weight because the brain couldn't pick up on the flagellin signal. No other changes to the mice's behavior were detected. The results suggest that TLR5 helps tell the brain that it's time to put down the fork. The brain doesn't get the memo without the receptor. 'If we disrupt this pathway, then the animals end up eating a little bit more for a little bit longer,' Duke School of Medicine neuroscientist Diego Bohórquez told The Post. Bohórquez previously demonstrated that neuropod cells in the gut can distinguish between real sugar and artificial sweeteners. The cells communicate this information to the brain, driving the preference for sugar. 'Looking ahead, I think this work will be especially helpful for the broader scientific community to explain how our behavior is influenced by microbes,' said Bohórquez, a professor of medicine and neurobiology and senior study author. 'One clear next step is to investigate how specific diets change the microbial landscape in the gut,' he added. 'That could be a key piece of the puzzle in conditions like obesity or psychiatric disorders.' Bohórquez said that future research should also address the effect of bacterial strains beyond Salmonella Typhimurium and explore whether antibiotics or probiotics can influence this neurobiotic sense. Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Gut's sixth sense? Researchers say it may help you lose weight and boost brain power
It turns out that your gut might have a sense all its own. Researchers at Duke University have discovered that the colon is home to tiny, specialized cells called neuropods. These cells can sense what's happening inside your body, almost like taste buds, but for your gut. They pick up on things like sugars and signals from gut bacteria, then send fast messages straight to your brain. The idea is that your gut may have a 'sixth sense' that helps shape your cravings, when you feel full, and even how your brain works. Scientists are calling it the neurobiotic sense. And according to the researchers, this 'hidden sense' could lead to new treatments for obesity and brain-related disorders tied to diet. 'It's similar to how we use our other senses, sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch, to interpret our world,' the study authors said in a press release from Duke University. 'But this one operates from an unexpected place: The gut.' For a long time, doctors and scientists have talked about the gut-brain connection. It's known that the gut sends signals to the brain that affect mood, digestion, and how we feel overall. But the Duke study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, reveals something more specific: how certain gut cells respond to bacterial activity and change behavior as a result. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo What they found in mice The researchers focused on a protein called flagellin. Some types of bacteria in your gut release this protein when you eat. Flagellin helps bacteria move around. The special gut cells, neuropods, have a receptor called TLR5 that recognizes flagellin. When the cells spot it, they send a message to the brain through the vagus nerve. That's the main communication line between the gut and the brain. To understand how this works, the team studied mice. In one experiment, they let a group of mice go without food overnight. Then they gave them a small amount of flagellin from Salmonella Typhimurium, a bacterium known to cause infections. Those mice ate less than usual. Then they tried the same test on a group of mice that didn't have the TLR5 receptor. This group kept eating. They didn't get the message that they were full, and they gained more weight. Everything else about the mice stayed the same. Their activity and habits didn't change. That led to an important conclusion: The TLR5 receptor tells the brain when it's time to stop eating. Without it, that signal doesn't arrive. 'If we disrupt this pathway, then the animals end up eating a little bit more for a little bit longer,' said Diego Bohórquez, a neuroscientist at Duke University's School of Medicine, in an interview with The New York Post . Bohórquez previously showed that these same neuropod cells can tell the difference between real sugar and fake sweeteners. They pass that information to the brain, which helps explain why we often prefer real sugar. 'Looking ahead, I think this work will be especially helpful for the broader scientific community to explain how our behavior is influenced by microbes,' said Bohórquez, who is also a professor of medicine and neurobiology and the senior author of the study.
