Acidipropionibacterium acidipropionici, a propionate-producing bacterium, contributes to GPR41 signaling and metabolic regulation in high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice

Obesity is a major healthcare problem worldwide and is induced by excess energy intake, resulting in gut microbial composition and microbial diversity changes. Through fermentation of dietary fibers, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) act as host energy sources and signaling molecules via G protein-coupled receptors such as GPR41. <i>Acidipropionibacterium acidipropionici</i> is widely used in many applications; however, <i>in vivo</i> studies on the beneficial effect of <i>A. acidipropionici</i> via propionate production and host energy homeostasis are unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the beneficial metabolic effects of <i>A. acidipropionici</i> by focusing on GPR41 signaling in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse model. Here, we demonstrated that <i>A. acidipropionici</i> OB7439 improved host metabolism in HFD-induced obesity in mice. The intake of <i>A. acidipropionici</i> OB7439 improved metabolism in HFD-induced obese mice by increasing propionate production, regulating glucose tolerance, and inhibiting hepatic inflammation via GPR41 signaling. Our findings shed light on the potential of using <i>A. acidipropionici</i> OB7439 as an SCFA producer for the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders. Based on these results, we suggest that <i>A. acidipropionici</i> may be a potential therapeutic bacterium that inhibits obesity and modulates the gut microbial community.