Metabolism [4,5]. There is evidence that these transcription factors undergo gene regulation in response to the microbial flora residing in the gastrointestinal tract and that this changes contributes to local development and tuning of gut homeostasis in addition to driving 
maturation of the host adaptive Lixisenatide immune system [6?]. Recent data suggest that nuclear receptors are regulated under intestinal inflammation [9,10]. This view emerges from the observation that while commensal bacteria elevate the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)c in colonic epithelial cells and can regulate intestinal inflammation by 50-14-6 inhibiting NF-kB activity in a PPARc-dependent manner [11], inflammation induced in rodents or by IBDs associates with a robust downregulation of the expression of a number of nuclear receptors including PPARc, liver-x-receptor (LXRs), pregnane-xreceptor (PXR), farnesoid-x-receptor (FXR) and 1326631 retinoid-x-receptor (RXR) among others [9]. Because these receptors exertFXR Is a Novel TLR-9 Target Genecounter-regulatory activities on macrophages and epithelial cells by inhibiting downstream targets of the TLR pathways [12,13], aberrations in their expression might have impact in the pathogenesis of human diseases. Further on, because nuclear receptors exert their regulatory effects beyond the intestinal wall, their dysregulation might have systemic effects. FXR is a bile acid sensor whose expression is highly restricted to entero-hepatic tissues [14]. FXR is required to maintain intestinal integrity and its deficiency results in 
altered intestinal permeability and tendency toward development of dysregulated immune response 18055761 [15,16]. Despite a dysregulated expression of FXR has been linked to IBDs [17], the mechanisms that govern FXR expression in the intestine are poorly defined. In the present study we have investigated the mechanism of regulation of FXR by TLRs. By using mice deficient for several TLRs we have obtained compelling evidence that FXR is a downstream effector of immune response triggered by TLR9. In addition, we have provided evidence that modulation of FXR by TLR-9 is mediated by the recruitment of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-7, linking microbiota-sensing receptors to immune and metabolic signaling in the intestine.FXR in a murine model colitis induced by TNBS administration to wild type (C57BL/6) and TLR22/2, TLR42/2, TLR92/2 and MyD882/2 mice. As shown in Figure 2, analysis of mucosal damage score demonstrated that, with the exception of TLR42/2 mice which showed a less severe disease, the severity of the colitis was essentially similar in wild type, TLR22/2, TLR92/2 and MyD882/2 mice (Figure 2 A; n = 6;p,0.05). However, a tendency toward a development of more severe disease was observed in mice lacking TLR9, as demonstrated by higher colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity (Figure 2 B; n = 6, p,0.05) and TNFa levels (Figure 2 C; n = 6; p,0.05). Of interest, compared to C57BL/6 mice administered TNBS, the relative expression of FXR mRNA was strictly down-regulated in TLR92/ 2 mice (Figure 2 D; n = 6, p,0.05), confirming in vitro experiments indicating that TLR9 exerts a positive effect in regulating the FXR gene expression.FXR activation protects against colitis development in TLR9 and MyD88 null miceSince activation of TLR9 transduces its signal by recruiting the adaptor molecule MyD88 (Figure S1) we have then investigated the role exerted by FXR on development of TNBS colitis in TLR92/2 and.Metabolism [4,5]. There is evidence that these transcription factors undergo gene regulation in response to the microbial flora residing in the gastrointestinal tract and that this changes contributes to local development and tuning of gut homeostasis in addition to driving maturation of the host adaptive immune system [6?]. Recent data suggest that nuclear receptors are regulated under intestinal inflammation [9,10]. This view emerges from the observation that while commensal bacteria elevate the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)c in colonic epithelial cells and can regulate intestinal inflammation by inhibiting NF-kB activity in a PPARc-dependent manner [11], inflammation induced in rodents or by IBDs associates with a robust downregulation of the expression of a number of nuclear receptors including PPARc, liver-x-receptor (LXRs), pregnane-xreceptor (PXR), farnesoid-x-receptor (FXR) and 1326631 retinoid-x-receptor (RXR) among others [9]. Because these receptors exertFXR Is a Novel TLR-9 Target Genecounter-regulatory activities on macrophages and epithelial cells by inhibiting downstream targets of the TLR pathways [12,13], aberrations in their expression might have impact in the pathogenesis of human diseases. Further on, because nuclear receptors exert their regulatory effects beyond the intestinal wall, their dysregulation might have systemic effects. FXR is a bile acid sensor whose expression is highly restricted to entero-hepatic tissues [14]. FXR is required to maintain intestinal integrity and its deficiency results in altered intestinal permeability and tendency toward development of dysregulated immune response 18055761 [15,16]. Despite a dysregulated expression of FXR has been linked to IBDs [17], the mechanisms that govern FXR expression in the intestine are poorly defined. In the present study we have investigated the mechanism of regulation of FXR by TLRs. By using mice deficient for several TLRs we have obtained compelling evidence that FXR is a downstream effector of immune response triggered by TLR9. In addition, we have provided evidence that modulation of FXR by TLR-9 is mediated by the recruitment of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-7, linking microbiota-sensing receptors to immune and metabolic signaling in the intestine.FXR in a murine model colitis induced by TNBS administration to wild type (C57BL/6) and TLR22/2, TLR42/2, TLR92/2 and MyD882/2 mice. As shown in Figure 2, analysis of mucosal damage score demonstrated that, with the exception of TLR42/2 mice which showed a less severe disease, the severity of the colitis was essentially similar in wild type, TLR22/2, TLR92/2 and MyD882/2 mice (Figure 2 A; n = 6;p,0.05). However, a tendency toward a development of more severe disease was observed in mice lacking TLR9, as demonstrated by higher colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity (Figure 2 B; n = 6, p,0.05) and TNFa levels (Figure 2 C; n = 6; p,0.05). Of interest, compared to C57BL/6 mice administered TNBS, the relative expression of FXR mRNA was strictly down-regulated in TLR92/ 2 mice (Figure 2 D; n = 6, p,0.05), confirming in vitro experiments indicating that TLR9 exerts a positive effect in regulating the FXR gene expression.FXR activation protects against colitis development in TLR9 and MyD88 null miceSince activation of TLR9 transduces its signal by recruiting the adaptor molecule MyD88 (Figure S1) we have then investigated the role exerted by FXR on development of TNBS colitis in TLR92/2 and.