The interplay between the intestinal microbiome and gut hormones is a dynamic and bidirectional relationship. The microbiome influences the production, secretion, and activity of gut hormones, while gut hormones can modulate the composition and function of the microbiome. This intricate cross-talk has far-reaching implications for metabolic health, gastrointestinal function, and even mental well-being. Key areas of investigation in our lab include: metabolic health and digestive function (GLP-1 and secretin) and microbial adaptation to modern diet, neurological function (oxytocin, serotonin), and modulation of epithelial regeneration (serotonin).
Selected Publications
Di Rienzi SC, Danhof HA, Forshee MD, Roberts A, Britton RA. Limosilactobacillus reuteri promotes the expression and secretion of enteroendocrine- and enterocyte-derived hormones. FASEB J. 2025 Mar 31;39(6):e70408. doi: 10.1096/fj.202401669R. PMID: 40098558; PMCID: PMC11914943.
Danhof HA, Lee J, Thapa A, Britton RA, Di Rienzi SC. Microbial stimulation of oxytocin release from the intestinal epithelium via secretin signaling. Gut Microbes. 2023 12; 15(2):2256043. PMID: 37698879; PMCID: PMC10498800.
Tomaro-Duchesneau, C, LeValley, SL, Roeth, D, Sun, L, Horrigan, FT, Kalkum, M, Hyser, JM, & Britton, RA. Discovery of a bacterial peptide as a modulator of GLP-1 and metabolic disease. Scientific reports, 2020; 10(1), 4922.
LeValley SL, Tomaro-Duchesneau C, Britton RA. Degradation of the Incretin Hormone Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) by Enterococcus faecalis Metalloprotease GelE. mSphere. 2020;5(1):e00585-19. Published 2020 Feb 12. doi:10.1128/mSphere.00585-19.
Chang-Graham AL, Danhof HA, Engevik MA, Tomaro-Duchesneau C, Karandikar UC, Estes MK, Versalovic J, Britton RA, Hyser JM. Human Intestinal Enteroids With Inducible Neurogenin-3 Expression as a Novel Model of Gut Hormone Secretion. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;8(2):209-229. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2019.04.010. Epub 2019 Apr 25. PMID: 31029854; PMCID: PMC6664234.