On October 20, 2022, Nature published the research paper titled “Gut bacteria alleviate smoking-related NASH by degrading gut nicotine” by the team and collaborators of Professor Jiang Changtao from School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University and Institute of Medical Innovation, Peking University Third Hospital. The paper revealed a new molecular mechanism by which nicotine accumulated in the intestine during tobacco intake and promoted NASH progression through intestinal-liver interaction regulation. The team discovered for the first time the degradation of nicotine in the gut by the human gut microbiome and revealed the key gut symbiotic bacterium—Bacteroides xylanisolvens, and a novel nicotine metabolic enzyme—NicX. Via degrading intestinal nicotine through NicX, Bacteroides xylanisolvens effectively alleviated NASH aggravated by smoking. The study found that nicotine accumulated in the intestine during smoking, elaborated its promoting effect and molecular mechanism on NASH, revealed the key protective effect of intestinal symbiotic bacteria in the pathogenesis of nicotine-related NASH, and provided new targets and strategies for basic research and clinical intervention of smoking-related metabolic diseases.

　　Intestinal symbiotic bacterial degrades nicotine and ameliorates the aggravating effect of nicotine accumulation on NASH during smoking

      Written by: Lang Lang

　　Edited by: Liu Xin

　　Source: School of Basic Medical Sciences