Nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 (NFAT5) involved in gut microbial composition

The intestinal tract is frequently exposed to osmotically fluctuating environments in the lumen. The resistance of the epithelial barrier to osmotic pressure might be essential for maintaining gut homeostasis. Here, to reveal the role of osmoprotective transcription factor NFAT5 in intestinal epithelia, we examined whether NFAT5 is involved in reconstructing gut epithelial barriers and experimental colitis in mice. Moreover, we compared the gut microbial composition based on the 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing in the cecum contents and feces between wild-type and NFAT5-deficient mice to investigate the regulation of NFAT5 in the gut microbiota.