Christensenella minuta DSM 22607 and food restriction manage age-related disorders in vivo

Background With age, the risk of low-grade inflammation increases—a phenomenon known as inflammaging—which is associated with the development of age-related diseases. Concurrently, the gut microbiota undergoes age-related changes in humans. In centenarians and supercentenarians, certain bacteria from the Christensenellaceae family have been found to increase with age and are associated with healthy aging. This study aimed to investigate the potential beneficial effects of Christensenella minuta DSM 22607, a well-characterized strain from this family, on aging. Results Young (6-month-old) and old (19-month-old) mice were compared to validate age-related phenotypes. The effects of DSM 22607 were then evaluated, using food restriction as a positive control. DSM 22607 was found to influence the intestinal barrier by modulating goblet cell populations. Moreover, C. minuta administration exerted anti-inflammatory effects by reducing pro-inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6) and modulating T lymphocyte, macrophage, and NK cell populations. In addition, DSM 22607 counteracted the effects of food restriction by restoring short-chain fatty acid levels and improving metabolic parameters and bile acid composition. Conclusions These findings suggest that C. minuta DSM 22607 may represent a promising microbiota-based therapeutic strategy to support healthy aging.