Metabolism of hydrogen gases and bile acids in the gut microbiome

Abstract

The human gut microbiome refers to a highly diverse microbial ecosystem, which has a symbiotic relationship with the host. Molecular hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are generated by fermentative metabolism in anaerobic ecosystems. H2 generation and oxidation coupled to CO2 reduction to methane or acetate help maintain the structure of the gut microbiome. Bile acids are synthesized by hepatocytes from cholesterol in the liver and are important regulators of host metabolism. In this Review, we discuss how gut bacteria metabolize hydrogen gases and bile acids in the intestinal tract and the consequences on host physiology. Finally, we focus on bile acid metabolism by the Actinobacterium Eggerthella lenta. Eggerthella lenta appears to couple hydroxyl group oxidations to reductive acetogenesis under a CO2 or N2 atmosphere, but not under H2. Hence, at low H2 levels, E. lenta is proposed to use NADH from bile acid hydroxyl group oxidations to reduce CO2 to acetate.

Study details

Article type

Review

Dose-dependent effect

No

Outcome

Neutral

Findings

Colonic gas composition and concentration maybe an important regulation of the bile acid hydrophobic hydrophilic balance in feces. Colonization of gnotobiotic animals with hydrogen producers and bile acid metabolizing strains including E. lenta coupled with ingestible electronic gas sensors may provide a detailed understanding of the role of H2 partial pressure on bile acid metabolism.