RESEARCH
[Publication] Microbiota-mediated Induction of Beige Adipocytes in Response to Dietary Cues
March 5, 2026
Fig. 1: LPDs induce browning in a microbiota-dependent manner.
Credits: WPI-Bio2Q
A research group led by Bio2Q Center Director Professor Kenya Honda has revealed how a low-protein diet induces energy-burning beige adipocytes via gut microbiota. The team identified four specific bacterial strains from humans that promote the “browning” of white adipose tissue. The study uncovered two key mechanisms: bile acid metabolism activating FXR and bacteria-derived ammonia triggering hepatic FGF21 expression. This evolutionary strategy for metabolic adaptation offers promising insights into treating obesity and type 2 diabetes through microbiome-based therapies. These groundbreaking findings were published in the journal Nature on March 4, 2026.
| Title | Microbiota-mediated induction of beige adipocytes in response to dietary cues |
|---|---|
| Authors | Takeshi Tanoue, Manabu Nagayama, Ayumi J.A. Roochana, Samuel Zimmerman, Orr Ashenberg, Tanvi Jain, Ryo Igarashi, Satoshi Sasajima, Kozue Takeshita, Nicola Hetherington, Nobuyuki Okahashi, Masahiro Ueda, Morichika Konishi, Yoshiaki Nakayama, Aki Minoda, Ashwin N. Skelly, Yasuhiko Minokoshi, Nicholas Pucci, Daniel R. Mende, Makoto Arita, Hironori Yamamoto, Shunji Watanabe, Kouichi Miura, Scott Behie, Wataru Suda, Toshiro Sato, Koji Atarashi, Mami Matsushita, Shingo Kajimura, Damian R. Plichta, Masayuki Saito, Ramnik J. Xavier, Kenya Honda |
| DOI | 10.1038/s41586-026-10205-3 |
| Journal | Nature |
| Vol/Num/Page | ISSN 1476-4687 (online) |
| Publication Date | 2026 March 4. |
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