Flavonifractor plautii is a specific type of bacterium that has garnered increasing scientific attention due to its presence in the human gut. This strictly anaerobic, rod-shaped, gram-positive bacterium belongs to the phylum Firmicutes. It is a common resident within the complex community of microorganisms inhabiting the human gastrointestinal tract. This organism has undergone several reclassifications over time, previously known by names such as Eubacterium plautii and Clostridium orbiscindens, before its current designation.
How Flavonifractor Plautii Metabolizes Flavonoids
Flavonifractor plautii possesses a distinct metabolic capability: the breakdown of flavonoids. Flavonoids are a diverse group of plant compounds found in many fruits, vegetables, and beverages like green tea. They are recognized for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but their full benefits often depend on their transformation by gut bacteria. Flavonifractor plautii is particularly adept at cleaving the C-ring structure found in various flavonoids, a key step in their degradation.
It transforms these compounds into simpler, more bioavailable metabolites. For instance, it converts kaempferol into 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (4-HPAA) through enzymatic reactions. This process is significant because the resulting smaller compounds, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate and propionate, can be absorbed by the host and exert their own biological effects. This specialized ability distinguishes Flavonifractor plautii from many other gut bacteria.
Its Role in Gut Health
Flavonifractor plautii contributes to the overall ecosystem of the gut microbiome in several ways beyond its unique flavonoid metabolism. It is a proficient producer of short-chain fatty acids, specifically butyrate and propionate, which are important for maintaining gut health. Butyrate, for example, serves as a primary energy source for colonocytes, the cells lining the colon, and helps maintain the integrity of the gut barrier.
The presence of Flavonifractor plautii can also influence the balance of other gut bacteria. Its metabolic activities, including SCFA production, can support beneficial microbial diversity. This bacterium has been shown to modulate inflammation within the gut, such as by suppressing interleukin (IL)-17, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, which can promote recovery from acute colitis in mice.
Impact on Overall Human Health
The metabolites produced by Flavonifractor plautii, both from flavonoid breakdown and other metabolic processes, can influence various aspects of systemic human health. For instance, the short-chain fatty acids like butyrate and propionate generated by this bacterium are known to regulate the immune system and inflammation throughout the body. Research indicates that Flavonifractor plautii can attenuate inflammatory responses in obese adipose tissue, suggesting a link to metabolic health.
This bacterium shows connections to cardiovascular health. Studies have observed a significantly higher abundance of Flavonifractor plautii in individuals with normal arterial stiffness compared to those with elevated arterial stiffness, suggesting a protective role. Its effector, cis-aconitic acid, appears to help maintain the elastic fiber network and reduce arterial dysfunction by suppressing matrix metalloproteinase-2 activation. Furthermore, Flavonifractor plautii and its metabolite, desaminotyrosine (DAT), have shown cardioprotective effects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by improving cardiac function, reducing injury, and attenuating immune responses.
Beyond metabolic and cardiovascular implications, Flavonifractor plautii has been linked to immune system modulation. Oral administration of this bacterium has been shown to suppress Th2 immune responses, which are often associated with allergic reactions, by reducing interleukin-4 and increasing regulatory T cells. These early findings suggest Flavonifractor plautii plays a beneficial role in various physiological processes and contributes to overall human well-being.