| First Author | Harris JC | Year | 2024 |
| Journal | Cell Rep | Volume | 43 |
| Issue | 4 | Pages | 114029 |
| PubMed ID | 38573852 | Mgi Jnum | J:349728 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7627901 | Doi | 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114029 |
| Citation | Harris JC, et al. (2024) The microbiota and T cells non-genetically modulate inherited phenotypes transgenerationally. Cell Rep 43(4):114029 |
| abstractText | The host-microbiota relationship has evolved to shape mammalian physiology, including immunity, metabolism, and development. Germ-free models are widely used to study microbial effects on host processes such as immunity. Here, we find that both germ-free and T cell-deficient mice exhibit a robust sebum secretion defect persisting across multiple generations despite microbial colonization and T cell repletion. These phenotypes are inherited by progeny conceived during in vitro fertilization using germ-free sperm and eggs, demonstrating that non-genetic information in the gametes is required for microbial-dependent phenotypic transmission. Accordingly, gene expression in early embryos derived from gametes from germ-free or T cell-deficient mice is strikingly and similarly altered. Our findings demonstrate that microbial- and immune-dependent regulation of non-genetic information in the gametes can transmit inherited phenotypes transgenerationally in mice. This mechanism could rapidly generate phenotypic diversity to enhance host adaptation to environmental perturbations. |
