Figure 2.

Diagram illustrating the vicious circle engaging gut microbiota dysbiosis, obesity, and diabetes. Gut dysbiosis, characterized by increased abundance of Gram-negative pathogens secreting bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), leads to an increased gut permeability and increased intestinal LPS production (LPS_(i)), favorizing LPS passage into the plasma (LPS_(p)) and subsequent metabolic endotoxemia. Further, chronic low-grade inflammation (CLGI) and the accompanying systemic metabolic dysfunction contributes to body-weight gain, development of obesity, diabetes, and its possible complications that may arise, if the vicious circle is not interrupted. Other symbols: ↑- up regulation, ↓- down-regulation.