led to pronounced colon shortening and significant downregulation of the epithelial barrier proteins Occludin and Claudin-1.
Chronic sleep deprivation (CSD) is associated with impaired intestinal barrier function.
CSD exacerbates symptoms of chemically induced colitis and alters gut microbiota composition.
Fecal microbiota transplantation from CSD mice induces intestinal inflammation in treated recipients.
Transcriptomic analysis shows significant suppression of the circadian regulator Nr1d1, linked to intestinal health.
, a metabolite significantly reduced by CSD, is shown to restore Nr1d1 expression and improve barrier integrity when supplemented.
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BACKGROUND: Sleep deficiency significantly compromises human health, with the gut being particularly susceptible. However, the molecular mechanisms by which gut microbiota mediate sleep deprivation-induced intestinal dysfunction remain largely undefined. In this study, we employed a (CSD) mouse model to investigate the impact of sleep loss on intestinal integrity and microbial composition.
METHODS: The CSD mouse model was established using the modified multiple platform (rotating rod) method. Colon histomorphology was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Expression levels of barrier proteins (Occludin, Claudin-1) and circadian regulators (Nr1d1, Bmal1) were evaluated via Western blot or immunohistochemistry (IHC). Gut microbiota composition and stability were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the causal role of microbiota in CSD-induced barrier damage was assessed through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of intestinal epithelial tissues identified differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways. Untargeted metabolomics was employed to investigate key differential metabolites (). Additionally, taurine was supplemented in vivo to explore its efficacy and mechanism in alleviating intestinal barrier damage in CSD mice.
RESULTS: CSD led to pronounced colon shortening and significant downregulation of the epithelial barrier proteins Occludin and Claudin-1, indicative of impaired intestinal barrier function. Moreover, CSD exacerbated symptoms of chemically induced colitis and induced . Mechanistically, FMT from CSD mice into antibiotic-treated recipients recapitulated intestinal inflammation, confirming the pathogenic role of the altered microbiota. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant enrichment of genes involved in circadian rhythm pathways, notably a marked suppression of the circadian nuclear receptor Nr1d1, a key regulator of intestinal homeostasis. Complementary untargeted metabolomic profiling identified taurine as a microbiota-derived metabolite significantly reduced by CSD. In vivo taurine supplementation restored Nr1d1 expression, reinforced epithelial barrier integrity, and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production.
CONCLUSION: Together, these findings reveal a gut microbiota-taurine-Nr1d1 axis underlying sleep deprivation-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction, and suggest that therapeutic modulation of taurine levels or circadian pathways may offer novel strategies to prevent or treat sleep-related gastrointestinal disorders.
Key numbers
significantly downregulated
Decrease in and expression
mice showed reduced levels of key tight junction proteins.
200 mg/kg
supplementation dosage
Mice received daily for 21 days during the study.
21 days
duration
The model was maintained for three weeks.
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