The innate immune receptor RP105 promotes metabolic syndrome by altering gut microbiota composition and intestinal barrier function

Radioprotective 105 (RP105) plays a key role in the development of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic disorders; however, the underlying mechanisms remain to be understood. Here, we aimed to uncover whether RP105 affects metabolic syndrome through the modification of gut microbiota. We confirmed that body weight gain and fat accumulation by HFD feeding were suppressed in Rp105−/− mice. Fecal microbiome transplantation from HFD-fed donor Rp105−/− mice into HFD-fed recipient wild-type mice significantly improved various abnormalities associated with metabolic syndrome, including body weight gain, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, macrophage infiltration and inflammation in the adipose tissue. In addition, HFD-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction was attenuated by fecal microbiome transplantation from HFD-fed donor Rp105−/− mice. A 16S rRNA sequence analysis indicated that RP105 modified gut microbiota composition and was involved in the maintenance of its diversity. Thus, RP105 promotes metabolic syndrome by altering gut microbiota composition and intestinal barrier function. •FMT from HFD-fed Rp105−/− mice into HFD-fed WT mice improved metabolic syndrome.•Intestinal barrier dysfunction was improved by FMT from HFD-fed Rp105−/− mice.•RP105 modifies gut microbiota composition and maintains its diversity.