Microbiome-derived bile acid signatures in early life and their association with islet autoimmunity

S Santosh Lamichhane A Alex M. Dickens T Tanja Buchacher T Tianai Lou V Vincent Charron-Lamoureux R Roosa Kattelus P Pragya Karmacharya L Lucas Pinto da Silva M Matilda Kråkström O Omid Rasool P Partho Sen C Corinn Walker A Abubaker Patan E Emily C. Gentry S Simone Zuffa A Aron Arzoomand T Tadepally Lakshmikanth J Jaromir Mikeš A Aman Mebrahtu T Tommi Vatanen M Manuela Raffatellu (Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics) K Karsten Zengler (Department of Pediatrics, University of California) T Tuulia Hyötyläinen R Ramnik J. Xavier P Petter Brodin R Riitta Lahesmaa P Pieter C. Dorrestein (Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego) M Mikael Knip M Matej Oresic

Abstract

Abstract Emerging studies reveal that gut microbes can conjugate diverse amino acids to bile acids, known as microbially conjugated bile acids. However, their regulation and health effects remain unclear. Here, we analyzed early-life microbially conjugated bile acid patterns and their link to islet autoimmunity. We quantified 110 microbial bile acids in 303 stool samples collected longitudinally (3–36 months) from children who developed one or more islet autoantibodies and controls who remained autoantibody-negative. We identified distinct age-dependent trajectories of these bile acid amidates and correlated them with gut microbiome composition. We found that altered levels of ursodeoxycholic and deoxycholic acid conjugates were linked to islet autoimmunity as well as modulated monocyte activation in response to immunostimulatory lipopolysaccharide and Th17/Treg cell balance. These findings suggest that microbially conjugated bile acids influence immune development and type 1 diabetes risk.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 17, Issue 1
Published December 03, 2025
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (29)

S

Santosh Lamichhane

A

Alex M. Dickens

T

Tanja Buchacher

T

Tianai Lou

V

Vincent Charron-Lamoureux

R

Roosa Kattelus

P

Pragya Karmacharya

L

Lucas Pinto da Silva

M

Matilda Kråkström

O

Omid Rasool

P

Partho Sen

C

Corinn Walker

A

Abubaker Patan

E

Emily C. Gentry

S

Simone Zuffa

A

Aron Arzoomand

T

Tadepally Lakshmikanth

J

Jaromir Mikeš

A

Aman Mebrahtu

T

Tommi Vatanen

M

Manuela Raffatellu

Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics

K

Karsten Zengler

Department of Pediatrics, University of California

T

Tuulia Hyötyläinen

R

Ramnik J. Xavier

P

Petter Brodin

R

Riitta Lahesmaa

P

Pieter C. Dorrestein

Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego

M

Mikael Knip

M

Matej Oresic