Intestinal Clock Gene Bmal1 May Affect Liver Fat Problems from a High-Fat Diet by Changing Gut Bile Acids

Intestinal epithelial Bmal1 deletion in high-fat diet-fed mice led to a reduction in weight gain and improved metabolic health.

• Deletion of intestinal epithelial Bmal1 reduced weight gain in mice on a high-fat diet.
• Improvements in glucose and lipid homeostasis were observed following Bmal1 deletion.
• Hepatic steatosis was attenuated in the absence of intestinal epithelial Bmal1.
• Changes included coordinated regulation of liver lipid metabolic pathways and altered signaling related to bile acids.
• Distinct shifts in circulating and fecal bile acid profiles were noted after Bmal1 deletion.
• Fecal microbiota transplantation from Bmal1-deficient donors resulted in similar metabolic and bile acid-related changes in recipients.

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