A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Gut Microbiota‐Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Patients With Obesity Undergoing Gastric Bypass Surgery
Authors: Hekkala, Jenni; Kaisanlahti, Anna; Tejesvi, Mysore V.; Turunen, Jenni; Virtanen, Nikke; Karikka, Sonja; Erawijantari, Pande Putu; Samoylenko, Anatoliy; Bart, Genevieve; Vainio, Seppo; Lahti, Leo; Hukkanen, Janne; Ruuska‐Loewald, Terhi; Koivukangas, Vesa; Reunanen, Justus
Publisher: Wiley
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Molecular Microbiology
ISSN: 0950-382X
eISSN: 1365-2958
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.70064
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.70064
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/516222375
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
Human gut microbiota is associated with obesity. Gut microbiota–derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), lipid coated nanoparticles secreted by bacteria, have been suggested as a communication mechanism between gut microbiota and the host. This study characterized the effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on gut microbiota and gut microbiota–derived EVs in patients with obesity. Fecal samples were collected from 30 recruited patients at baseline and 6 months after surgery. EVs were isolated from fecal samples, and their origin and protein content were analyzed. The number of unique proteins was increased in gut microbiota–derived EVs after the surgery as compared to baseline. A significant difference in both microbiota composition (p = 0.001; PERMANOVA) and microbiota–derived EVs (p = 0.001; PERMANOVA) was observed in response to surgery. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing data, a random forest classifier accurately classified both gut microbiota (AUC = 0.93) and EVs (AUC = 0.80) to baseline and after surgery groups. This study found that gastric bypass surgery altered both the composition and characteristics of gut microbiota and gut microbiota–derived EVs in patients with obesity. Thus, gut microbiota–derived EVs may play a role in obesity and influence the health effects of bariatric surgery beyond the gut.
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Funding information in the publication:
Janne Hukkanen thanks the Diabetes Research Foundation, the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, and the Finnish Medical Foundation for grants. Justus Reunanen thanks Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Finland (funding period 2020–2023, principal investigator: Justus Reunanen) and the Diabetes Research Foundation for grants. Justus Reunanen and Vesa Koivukangas thank the Suorsa Foundation for a grant. Terhi Ruuska-Loewald thanks Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Finland (funding period 2024–2027, principal investigator: Terhi Ruuska-Loewald). Open access publishing facilitated by Oulun yliopisto, as part of the Wiley - FinELib agreement.
