Determining the Reversal Potential of Fecal Microbiota (FM) as a Part of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) for the Treatment of Diet Induced Diabetes

Abstract

Human body contains millions of microorganisms and these microorganisms play a vital role in the human body. From that, numerous bacterial species colonize the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the functions in aiding digestion, nutritional provision, colonic epithelial maturation, and pathogen protection. The human gut microbiome differs from person to person and is relatively stable and resilient over time; however, factors such as diet, stress, can change the composition. The altered composition of these microorganisms in the body is called ‘gut dysbiosis’. One of the most common lifestyle diseases is type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); it is due to insulin resistance which leads to abnormal glucose regulation or hyperglycemia. In some cases, the alteration in the gut microbiome is observed as well. The most common drug used for the treatment of T2DM is metformin that has many advantages including its neutral effect, reduction in body weight, and cardio protective antibiotic. Apart from the benefits it is reported that the drug also has some downsides, it tends to alter the gut microbiota and increases the LPS content. To overcome the disadvantage, FMT is being used as a treatment strategy in this study. Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is a therapeutic procedure of transplanting fecal bacteria from healthy donors into diseased recipients. Male wistar strain rats (Protocol number-IS/PHD/27/2020/032) were used, with the help of a high sugar high fat diet, T2DM was induced in the rats after the animal grouping. Biochemical test- oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed to check the induction of diabetes and the reversal before autopsy. The treatment phase was 12 weeks. Prior to the treatment omeprazole (20 mg/kg) was given; For the treatment FMT (100 mg/kg); crude fecal was collected from the healthy donor; processed and administered via oral gavage to the rats. Metformin (100 mg/kg) was used as a standard drug for administration in another group of diabetic rats. 1 After autopsy, the collected blood and tissues were used for serum biochemical analysis and gene expression studies, respectively. And from the fecal sample collected previously, colony forming units (CFU) count, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) analysis by HPLC were carried out. To conclude, the FM can be used for the treatment of gut dysbiosis caused as a part of any metabolic disorder.