Dose-Dependent Beneficial Effects of Tryptophan and Its Derived Metabolites on <i>Akkermansia</i> In Vitro: A Preliminary Prospective Study

• Main Authors: Jia Yin, Yujie Song, Yaozhong Hu, Yuanyifei Wang, Bowei Zhang, Jin Wang, Xuemeng Ji, Shuo Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
• Series: Microorganisms
• Subjects: <i>Akkermansia</i>; tryptophan metabolites; indole; indole derivates
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/7/1511

<i>Akkermansia muciniphila</i>, a potential probiotic, has been proven to lessen the effects of several diseases. As established, the relative abundance of <i>Akkermansia</i> is positively correlated with tryptophan metabolism. However, the reciprocal interaction between tryptophan and <i>Akkemansia</i> is still unclear. Herein, for the first time, the possible effects of tryptophan and its derived metabolites on <i>A. muciniphila</i> were preliminarily investigated, including growth, physiological function, and metabolism. Obtained results suggested that 0.4 g/L of tryptophan treatment could significantly promote the growth of <i>A. muciniphila</i>. Notably, when grown in BHI with 0.8 g/L of tryptophan, the hydrophobicity and adhesion of <i>A. muciniphila</i> were significantly improved, potentially due to the increase in the rate of cell division. Furthermore, <i>A. muciniphila</i> metabolized tryptophan to indole, indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-carboxaldehyde, and indole-3-lactic acid. Indoles produced by gut microbiota could significantly promote the growth of <i>A. muciniphila</i>. These results could provide a valuable reference for future research on the relationship between tryptophan metabolism and <i>A. muciniphila</i>.