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Comment
. 2020 Jan;17(1):6-8.
doi: 10.1038/s41575-019-0227-6.

Building community in the gut: a role for mucosal serotonin

Jill M Hoffman  1 , Kara G Margolis  2
Affiliations
Comment

Building community in the gut: a role for mucosal serotonin

Jill M Hoffman et al. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Jan.

Abstract

A new study reveals that a novel serotonin sensor in the spore-forming gut bacteria, Turicibacter sanguinis, might be important for host lipid and steroid metabolism. These findings support the emerging concept that bidirectional signalling pathways can influence bacterial community structure and exert effects on host physiology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests

Figures

Fig. 1 |
Fig. 1 |. Turicibacter alters host physiology via a novel serotonin sensor.
Serotonin (5-HT) released from host enterochromaffin cells interacts with Turicibacter in the lumen via a novel serotonin sensor, CUW_0748, which has homology to the serotonin transporter (SERT) expressed on host enterocytes. Under conditions of increased 5-HT availability in the mouse intestine, enhanced 5-HT detection by Turicibacter leads to increased colonization, alterations in host bacterial community structure and subsequent changes in steroid and lipid metabolism.
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