IgM-associated gut bacteria in obesity and type 2 diabetes in C57BL/6 mice and humans

Aims/hypothesis IgM is the primary antibody produced by B cells and we hypothesise that IgM antibodies to gut microbiota may play a role in immunometabolism in obesity and type 2 diabetes. To test our hypothesis, we used B6 mice deficient in activation-induced cytidine deaminase (Aid(-/-) [also known as Aicda(-/-)]) which secrete only IgM antibodies, and human faecal samples. Methods We studied the immunometabolic effects and gut microbial changes in high-fat-diet-induced obesity (HFDIO) in Aid(-/-) B6 mice compared with wild-type mice. To determine similarities between mice and humans, human stool samples were collected from children and adolescents who were obese with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), obese with glucose intolerance (IGT), or obese and newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, for faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) into germ-free (GF) B6 mice and we assessed IgM-bound bacteria and immune responses. Results Compared with wild-type mice, Aid(-/-) B6 mice developed exacerbated HFDIO due to abundant levels of IgM. FMT from Aid(-/-) B6 to GF B6 mice promoted greater weight gain in recipient mice compared with FMT using wild-type mouse faecal microbiota. Obese youth with type 2 diabetes had more IgM-bound gut bacteria. Using the stools from the obese youth with type 2 diabetes for FMT to GF B6 mice, we observed that the gut microbiota promoted body weight gain and impaired glucose tolerance in the recipient GF B6 mice. Importantly, some clinical features of these obese young individuals were mirrored in the GF B6 mice following FMT. Conclusions/interpretation Our results suggest that IgM-bound gut microbiota may play an important role in the immuno-pathogenesis of obesity and type 2 diabetes, and provide a novel link between IgM in obesity and type 2 diabetes in both mice and humans.

Automated summary

The study suggests that IgM-bound gut microbiota may play a crucial role in the immunopathogenesis of obesity and type 2 diabetes, providing a novel link between IgM and these conditions in both mice and humans.