Figure 5.

The microbiota influences metabolic programmes within the gut. Signals derived from gram-negative flagellated bacteria resident within a healthy microbiome activate toll-like receptors on lamina propria CD11c⁺ dendritic cells and induce IL23 secretion. In response to increased IL23 levels, ILC3s signal to intestinal epithelial cells via IL22, which activates a STAT3 signaling pathway to repress rev-erbα expression, with subsequent de-repression of nfil3 transcription. Increased nfil3 expression drives circadian lipid homeostasis and development of ILCs and T_h17 cells, promoting intestinal homeostasis. DC, dendritic cell. ILC, innate lymphoid cell, STAT, signal transducer and activator of transcription.