In vitro models as a tool to study the role of gut microbiota in obesity

Obesity, a highly prevalent condition worldwide that leads to the development of multiple metabolic diseases, has been related to gut microbial dysbiosis. To understand this correlation, in vivo models
have been extremely useful. However, its use is limited by associated ethical concerns, high costs, low representativeness, and low reproducibility. Therefore, new and improved in vitro models have been developed in recent years, representing a promising tool in the study of the role of gut microbiota modulation in weight management and metabolic health. This review aims to provide
an update on the main findings obtained in vitro regarding gut microbiota modulation with probiotics, and food compounds, and its interaction with the host metabolism, associated with
obesity. Available in vitro colon models currently used to study obesity are discussed, including batch and dynamic fermentation systems, and models that allow the study of microbiota-host
interactions using cell cultures. In vitro models have demonstrated that homeostatic microbiota may help overcome obesity by producing satiety-related neurotransmitters and metabolites that protect the gut barrier and improve the metabolic activity of adipose tissue. In vitro models may be the key to finding new treatments for obesity-related disorders.
This work was supported by the FCT under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 and UIDB/PSI/01662/202 units, by LABBELS – Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and
Microelectromechanical Systems, LA/P/0029/2020 and by the Psychology Research Centre [CIPsi - PSI/01662], School of Psychology, University of Minho. Clarisse Nobre [2021.01234.CEECIND] and Eva Conceição [2020.01538.CEECIND and PTDC/PSI-GER/28209/2017] acknowledge FCT for the assistant research contracts. Abigail González acknowl edges the grant 2021.06268.BD from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
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