Scientists find a natural gut compound that helps heal the intestine — SkimNews
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- University of Louisville researchers found that urolithin A (UroA) — a microbial metabolite produced when gut bacteria digest pomegranates, walnuts, and berries — activates a protective pathway in the intestine via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR).
- The study, published in Nature Communications, shows UroA selectively activates AHR in intestinal epithelial cells, triggering the NLRP6 inflammasome to repair the gut lining, reinforce the intestinal barrier, boost protective mucus, and strengthen antimicrobial defenses.
- Lead investigator Sweta Ghosh, formerly a postdoctoral researcher in Jala's lab, said the findings demonstrate that 'not all inflammatory pathways are harmful' — under the right conditions and in the right cells, they can support tissue repair and gut health.
- Senior author Venkatakrishna Rao Jala, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at UofL's Brown Cancer Center, said the work could lead to therapies that target specific protective pathways in selected cell types rather than broadly suppressing immune responses.
- The team validated the mechanism across cell studies, organoid models, and intestinal tissue samples from IBD patients, where UroA activated the same protective pathway observed in the lab experiments.
- The research resolves a long-standing puzzle: AHR can cause harm when triggered by environmental toxins but supports intestinal health when activated by dietary compounds — the difference depends on the location and strength of receptor activation.
Why it matters: For the millions living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, current treatments broadly suppress the immune system, often with significant side effects. This research identifies a specific cell-targeted pathway — AHR-NLRP6 in intestinal epithelial cells — that could enable therapies restoring gut balance rather than dampening immunity wholesale.
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