Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have identified a gut bacterium that could lead to innovative treatments for chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes, thanks to its unique protein production.
An international team led by scientists at the University of Copenhagen has made a significant breakthrough in microbiome research, identifying a specific gut bacterium with the potential to unlock new treatments for a variety of chronic diseases.
The human intestines house trillions of microorganisms that produce substances influencing bodily functions, yet much remains unknown about the bacteria in our microbiome. Researchers have now discovered a bacterium that generates two proteins similar to the hormone irisin, which regulates fat metabolism during physical activity.
These newly identified proteins, named RORDEP1 and RORDEP2, significantly influence hormonal balance, affecting weight management, bone density and blood sugar levels.
“We found that the number of RORDEP-producing bacteria can vary by up to 100,000 times between individuals, and that people with high levels of these bacteria tend to be leaner,” lead author Yong Fan, an assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen’s Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, said in a news release.
Impact on Body Weight and Blood Sugar
Published in the journal Nature Microbiology, the study detailed how RORDEP proteins can boost the body’s production of hormones like GLP-1 and PYY, which help regulate appetite and blood sugar. These proteins also enhance insulin production, crucial for blood sugar stability, and suppress GIP, a hormone that can lead to weight gain. Additionally, RORDEP proteins directly promote fat burning.
“In experiments with rats and mice that received either RORDEP-producing gut bacteria or the RORDEP proteins themselves, we observed reduced weight gain and lower blood sugar levels, along with increased bone density. What’s exciting is that this is the first time we’ve mapped gut bacteria that alter our hormonal balance,” Fan added.
A Paradigm Shift in Treating Chronic Diseases
The research has spurred the establishment of the biotech company GutCRINE by the University of Copenhagen researchers, aimed at translating these findings into clinical applications.
The researchers have initiated clinical trials to test the effects of live RORDEP-producing bacteria and the RORDEP1 protein on human biology.
“We’re now translating our basic research into human studies to explore whether RORDEP-producing bacteria or the RORDEP proteins — either in their natural or chemically modified form — can serve as the foundation for a new class of biological drugs known as pharmabiotics,” added project leader and senior author Oluf Pedersen, a professor in the Department of Clinical Medicine at the University of Copenhagen.
“Looking 10 to 15 years ahead, our goal is to test the potential of RORDEP-producing bacteria for both prevention and treatment. We want to investigate whether they can function as a second-generation probiotic — used as a dietary supplement to prevent common chronic diseases — and whether RORDEP-proteins in modified forms can be developed into future medicines for cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and osteoporosis,” he added.
The collaborative effort included scientists from the University of Copenhagen, Herlev-Gentofte Hospital, Zealand University Hospital, Novo Nordisk A/S, the Technical University of Denmark, Steno Diabetes Center and Chongqing Medical University.
Source: University of Copenhagen