Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
The obesity epidemic has risen to astronomical numbers with over 650 million adults being classified as obese (BMI≥30). Obesity is of critical concern as excess body fat storage is a comorbidity to various diseases including type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Although obesity has classically been attributed to genetics and unhealthy lifestyle choices, there is a growing interest in other factors affecting obesity, including the gut microbiome. For example, mice lacking a microbiome are resistant to weight gain even when placed on a high-calorie diet. It can then be concluded that bacteria and the metabolites they produce can dramatically affect metabolism and overall weight gain. Previously, we have shown that exogenous Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is protective in female Drosophila melanogaster on a high-fat diet and can prolong their lifespan compared to negative controls. For this research, we seek to identify this effect in human cells. We hypothesize that F. prausnitizii supernatant will be protective of liver (HepG2) cells by reducing cell death during induced steatosis. To test this, we will induce steatosis in HepG2 cells using oleate, treat the cells with F. prausnitizii supernatant and will assess cell death using an LDH assay. The F. prausnitizii supernatant will contain bacterial metabolites that we can further study if an effect is seen. By studying the specific metabolites produced by the human gut microbiota, we can potentially elucidate novel metabolites that promote fat metabolism, thereby reducing the obesity crisis and its associated diseases.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Josh Owens
Recommended Citation
Martin, Morgan and Cole, Emerald, "Exploring the Role of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Metabolites in Modulating Fatty Acid Metabolism and Protecting HepG2 Cells During Induced Steatosis" (2025). Student Scholar Symposium. 1.
https://digitalcollections.lipscomb.edu/student_scholars_symposium/2025/Full_schedule/1
Included in
Exploring the Role of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Metabolites in Modulating Fatty Acid Metabolism and Protecting HepG2 Cells During Induced Steatosis
The obesity epidemic has risen to astronomical numbers with over 650 million adults being classified as obese (BMI≥30). Obesity is of critical concern as excess body fat storage is a comorbidity to various diseases including type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Although obesity has classically been attributed to genetics and unhealthy lifestyle choices, there is a growing interest in other factors affecting obesity, including the gut microbiome. For example, mice lacking a microbiome are resistant to weight gain even when placed on a high-calorie diet. It can then be concluded that bacteria and the metabolites they produce can dramatically affect metabolism and overall weight gain. Previously, we have shown that exogenous Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is protective in female Drosophila melanogaster on a high-fat diet and can prolong their lifespan compared to negative controls. For this research, we seek to identify this effect in human cells. We hypothesize that F. prausnitizii supernatant will be protective of liver (HepG2) cells by reducing cell death during induced steatosis. To test this, we will induce steatosis in HepG2 cells using oleate, treat the cells with F. prausnitizii supernatant and will assess cell death using an LDH assay. The F. prausnitizii supernatant will contain bacterial metabolites that we can further study if an effect is seen. By studying the specific metabolites produced by the human gut microbiota, we can potentially elucidate novel metabolites that promote fat metabolism, thereby reducing the obesity crisis and its associated diseases.