The gut microbiota is involved in a number of different metabolic processes of the host organism, including the metabolism of xenobiotics. In our study, we focused on liver cytochromes P450 (CYPs), which can metabolize a wide range of exo- and endogenous molecules. We studied changes in mRNA expression and CYP enzyme activities, as well as the mRNA expression of transcription factors that have an important role in CYP expression, all in stressed germ-free (GF) and stressed specific-pathogen-free (SPF) mice. Besides the presence of the gut microbiota, we looked at the difference between acute and chronic stress. Our results show that stress has an impact on CYP mRNA expression, but it is mainly chronic stress that has a significant effect on enzyme activities along with the gut microbiome. In acutely stressed mice, we observed significant changes at the mRNA level, however, the corresponding enzyme activities were not influenced. Our study suggests an important role of the gut microbiota along with chronic psychosocial stress in the expression and activity of CYPs, which can potentially lead to less effective drug metabolism and, as a result, a harmful impact on the organism.

• MeSH
• Liver enzymology   microbiology   MeSH
• RNA, Messenger genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Mice, Inbred BALB C MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Stress, Psychological * MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic MeSH
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome physiology   MeSH
• Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Transcription Factors genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Xenobiotics metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• RNA, Messenger MeSH
• Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System MeSH
• Transcription Factors MeSH
• Xenobiotics MeSH