Endocrine Regulation of Appetite: Interactions between Gut Microbiota, Microbial Metabolites, and Appetite-related Hormones


Arvas S., Ozcelik O., Beyhan Y. E., Algül S.

Hormone and Metabolic Research, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1055/a-2851-0224
  • Dergi Adı: Hormone and Metabolic Research
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Chemical Abstracts Core, EMBASE
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: energy homeostasis, ghrelin, gut microbiota, gut-brain axis, leptin, metabolic syndrome, short-chain fatty acids
  • Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The gut microbiota has emerged as a key endocrine modulator that shapes host appetite regulation through its metabolites and their interactions with enteroendocrine and central neuroendocrine pathways. Microbial metabolites-including short-chain fatty acids, bile acid derivatives, indole compounds, and tryptophan-derived serotonin-activate receptors such as G-protein-coupled receptor 41/43, Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5, and Toll-like receptor 4 on enteroendocrine cells, influence the secretion of appetite-related hormones including ghrelin, leptin, glucagon-like peptide-1, peptide YY, nesfatin-1, and cholecystokinin. These hormones subsequently modulate hypothalamic circuits, particularly the NPY/AgRP and POMC/CART pathways, establishing a mechanistic link between microbial signaling and central appetite control. Ghrelin serves as the primary orexigenic hormone, whereas leptin, glucagon-like peptide-1, peptide YY, nesfatin-1, and cholecystokinin collectively exert anorexigenic effects that promote satiety and energy homeostasis. Dysbiosis disrupts receptor-mediated endocrine signaling, alters hormonal secretion, and contributes to leptin resistance, impaired glucagon-like peptide-1 responsiveness, and dysregulated appetite-key features in obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. This review synthesizes current mechanistic insights into the microbiota-hormone axis and highlights how microbial modulation influences endocrine appetite regulation. Understanding these interactions provides a translational framework for developing microbiota-targeted endocrine therapies aimed at restoring metabolic balance and preventing obesity and related metabolic disorders.