Guiqi Baizhu Decoction Alleviates Radiation Inflammation in Rats by Modulating the Composition of the Gut Microbiota

The gut microbiota is important in metabolism and immune modulation, and compositional disruption of the gut microbiota population is closely associated with inflammation caused by ionizing radiation (IR). Guiqi Baizhu decoction (GQBZD) is a medicinal compound used in traditional Chinese medicine with anti-inflammatory and antioxidation effects, especially in the process of radiotherapy. However, the effect of GQBZD on reducing the damage to the normal immune system in radiotherapy remains unclear. Here, we show that GQBZD reduces body weights, water intake, food intake, diarrhea level and quality of life score, and inflammation and enhances immunity function in rats treated with X-ray radiation. Meanwhile, our data indicate that GQBZD not only reverses IR-induced gut dysbiosis as indicated change of α-diversity and β-diversity of microbiota, the composition of Desulfovibrio, Bacteroides, and Parabacteroides, except for Roseburia and Lachnoclostridium, but also maintains intestinal barrier integrity and promoting the formation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). GQBZD can also reduce the level of phosphorylation P65 (p-P65). Our results demonstrate that GQBZD can significantly alleviate the inflammatory responses and improve the immune damage against IR, and may be used as prebiotic agents to prevent gut dysbiosis and radiation-related metabolic disorders in radiotherapy.

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Impact of Vitamin D Deficit on the Rat Gut Microbiome

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11112564 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 2564 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Iñaki Robles-Vera ◽

María Callejo ◽

Ricardo Ramos ◽

Juan Duarte ◽

Francisco Perez-Vizcaino

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Vitamin D Deficiency ◽

16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Microbiome Composition ◽

Gut Dysbiosis ◽

Β Diversity ◽

Α Diversity ◽

Rat Gut

Inadequate immunologic, metabolic and cardiovascular homeostasis has been related to either an alteration of the gut microbiota or to vitamin D deficiency. We analyzed whether vitamin D deficiency alters rat gut microbiota. Male Wistar rats were fed a standard or a vitamin D-free diet for seven weeks. The microbiome composition was determined in fecal samples by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The vitamin D-free diet produced mild changes on α- diversity but no effect on β-diversity in the global microbiome. Markers of gut dysbiosis like Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio or the short chain fatty acid producing bacterial genera were not significantly affected by vitamin D deficiency. Notably, there was an increase in the relative abundance of the Enterobacteriaceae, with significant rises in its associated genera Escherichia, Candidatus blochmannia and Enterobacter in vitamin D deficient rats. Prevotella and Actinomyces were also increased and Odoribacteraceae and its genus Butyricimonas were decreased in rats with vitamin D-free diet. In conclusion, vitamin D deficit does not induce gut dysbiosis but produces some specific changes in bacterial taxa, which may play a pathophysiological role in the immunologic dysregulation associated with this hypovitaminosis.

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Short-Chain Fatty Acids: A Soldier Fighting Against Inflammation and Protecting From Tumorigenesis in People With Diabetes

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2020.590685 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Qiyu Yang ◽

Jing Ouyang ◽

Fengjun Sun ◽

Jiadan Yang

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Microbial Translocation ◽

Short Chain ◽

Fermentation Products ◽

Gut Dysbiosis ◽

Risk Of Cancer ◽

Chain Fatty Acids

Converging evidences showed that people with diabetes mellitus (DM) have significantly higher risk for different cancers, of which the exact mechanism underlying the association has not been fully realized. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the fermentation products of the intestinal microbiota, are an essential source for energy supply in gut epithelial cells. They have been reported to improve intestinal barrier integrity, prevent microbial translocation, and further dampen inflammation. Gut dysbiosis and reduction in SCFA-producing bacteria as well as SCFAs production in the intestine are commonly seen in metabolic disorders including DM and obesity. Moreover, inflammation can contribute to tumor initiation and progression through multiple pathways, such as enhancing DNA damage, accumulating mutations in tumor suppressor genes Tp53, and activating nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways. Based on these facts, we hypothesize that lower levels of microbial SCFAs resulted from gut dysbiosis in diabetic individuals, enhance microbial translocation, and increase the inflammatory responses, inducing tumorigenesis ulteriorly. To this end, we will discuss protective properties of microbial SCFAs and explore the pivotal roles SCFAs played in the link of DM with cancer, so as to take early precautions to reduce the risk of cancer in patients with DM.

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Crosstalk between Gut and Brain in Alzheimer’s Disease: The Role of Gut Microbiota Modulation Strategies

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13020690 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 690

Author(s):

Umair Shabbir ◽

Muhammad Sajid Arshad ◽

Aysha Sameen ◽

Deog-Hwan Oh

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Gut Dysbiosis ◽

Dynamic Population

The gut microbiota (GM) represents a diverse and dynamic population of microorganisms and about 100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells that dwell in the gastrointestinal tract. Studies suggest that the GM can influence the health of the host, and several factors can modify the GM composition, such as diet, drug intake, lifestyle, and geographical locations. Gut dysbiosis can affect brain immune homeostasis through the microbiota–gut–brain axis and can play a key role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The relationship between gut dysbiosis and AD is still elusive, but emerging evidence suggests that it can enhance the secretion of lipopolysaccharides and amyloids that may disturb intestinal permeability and the blood–brain barrier. In addition, it can promote the hallmarks of AD, such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, amyloid-beta formation, insulin resistance, and ultimately the causation of neural death. Poor dietary habits and aging, along with inflammatory responses due to dysbiosis, may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. Thus, GM modulation through diet, probiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation could represent potential therapeutics in AD. In this review, we discuss the role of GM dysbiosis in AD and potential therapeutic strategies to modulate GM in AD.

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Relationships of gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, inflammation, and the gut barrier in Parkinson’s disease

Molecular Neurodegeneration ◽

10.1186/s13024-021-00427-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Velma T. E. Aho ◽

Madelyn C. Houser ◽

Pedro A. B. Pereira ◽

Jianjun Chang ◽

Knut Rudi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Disease Onset ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Short Chain ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Chain Fatty Acids

Abstract Background Previous studies have reported that gut microbiota, permeability, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and inflammation are altered in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but how these factors are linked and how they contribute to disease processes and symptoms remains uncertain. This study sought to compare and identify associations among these factors in PD patients and controls to elucidate their interrelations and links to clinical manifestations of PD. Methods Stool and plasma samples and clinical data were collected from 55 PD patients and 56 controls. Levels of stool SCFAs and stool and plasma inflammatory and permeability markers were compared between patients and controls and related to one another and to the gut microbiota. Results Calprotectin was increased and SCFAs decreased in stool in PD in a sex-dependent manner. Inflammatory markers in plasma and stool were neither intercorrelated nor strongly associated with SCFA levels. Age at PD onset was positively correlated with SCFAs and negatively correlated with CXCL8 and IL-1β in stool. Fecal zonulin correlated positively with fecal NGAL and negatively with PD motor and non-motor symptoms. Microbiota diversity and composition were linked to levels of SCFAs, inflammatory factors, and zonulin in stool. Certain relationships differed between patients and controls and by sex. Conclusions Intestinal inflammatory responses and reductions in fecal SCFAs occur in PD, are related to the microbiota and to disease onset, and are not reflected in plasma inflammatory profiles. Some of these relationships are distinct in PD and are sex-dependent. This study revealed potential alterations in microbiota-host interactions and links between earlier PD onset and intestinal inflammatory responses and reduced SCFA levels, highlighting candidate molecules and pathways which may contribute to PD pathogenesis and clinical presentation and which warrant further investigation.

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Intestinal microbiota and their metabolic contribution to type 2 diabetes and obesity

Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders ◽

10.1007/s40200-021-00858-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

A. L. Cunningham ◽

J. W. Stephens ◽

D. A. Harris

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Global Epidemic ◽

Technological Advances ◽

Diabetes And Obesity

AbstractObesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are common, chronic metabolic disorders with associated significant long-term health problems at global epidemic levels. It is recognised that gut microbiota play a central role in maintaining host homeostasis and through technological advances in both animal and human models it is becoming clear that gut microbiota are heavily involved in key pathophysiological roles in the aetiology and progression of both conditions. This review will focus on current knowledge regarding microbiota interactions with short chain fatty acids, the host inflammatory response, signaling pathways, integrity of the intestinal barrier, the interaction of the gut-brain axis and the subsequent impact on the metabolic health of the host.

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Reduced fecal short-chain fatty acids levels and the relationship with gut microbiota in IgA nephropathy

10.21203/rs.3.rs-373656/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lingxiong Chai ◽

Qun Luo ◽

Kedan Cai ◽

Kaiyue Wang ◽

Binbin Xu

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Iga Nephropathy ◽

Butyric Acid ◽

Intestinal Flora ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Caproic Acid ◽

Isobutyric Acid ◽

Control Group ◽

Β Diversity

Abstract Background: IgA nephropathy(IgAN)) is the common pathological type of glomerular diseases. The role of gut microbiota in mediating "gut-IgA nephropathy" has not received sufficient attention in the previous studies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of fecal short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs), a metabolite of the intestinal microbiota, in patients with IgAN and its correlation with intestinal flora and clinical indicators, and to further investigate the role of the gut-renal axis in IgAN.Methods: There were 29 patients with IgAN and 29 normal control subjects recruited from January 2018 to May 2018. The fresh feces were collected. The fecal SCFAs were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and gut microbiota was analysed by16S rDNA sequences, followed by estimation of α- and β-diversity. Correlation analysis was performed using the spearman’s correlation test between SCFAs and gut microbiota. Results:The levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid and caproic acid in the IgAN patients were significantly reduced compared with control group(P<0.05). Butyric acid(r=-0.336, P=0.010) and isobutyric acid(r=-0.298, P=0.022) were negatively correlated with urea acid; butyric acid(r=-0.316, P=0.016) was negatively correlated with urea nitrogen; caproic acid(r=-0.415,P=0.025) showed negative correlation with 24-h urine protein level.Exemplified by the results of α-diversity and β-diversity, the intestinal flora of IgAN patients was significantly different from that of the control group. Acetic acid was positively associated with c_Clostridia(r=0.357, P=0.008), o_Clostridiales(r=0.357, P=0.008) and g_Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group(r=0.283, P=0.036). Butyric acid was positively associated with g_Alistipes (r=0.278, P=0.040). The relative abundance of those were significantly decreased in IgAN group compared to control group.Conclusion: The levels of fecal SCFAs in the IgAN patients were reduced, and correlated with clinical parameters and gut microbiota, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of IgAN, and this finding may provide a new therapeutic approach.

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Gut Microbiota May Not Be Fully Restored in Recovered COVID-19 Patients After 3-Month Recovery

Frontiers in Nutrition ◽

10.3389/fnut.2021.638825 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Yu Tian ◽

Kai-yi Sun ◽

Tian-qing Meng ◽

Zhen Ye ◽

Shi-meng Guo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Sequencing Analysis ◽

Gut Health ◽

Opportunistic Pathogens ◽

Recovery Stage ◽

Β Diversity ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Male Patients

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected over 124 million people worldwide. In addition to the development of therapeutics and vaccines, the evaluation of the sequelae in recovered patients is also important. Recent studies have indicated that COVID-19 has the ability to infect intestinal tissues and to trigger alterations of the gut microbiota. However, whether these changes in gut microbiota persist into the recovery stage remains largely unknown. Here, we recruited seven healthy Chinese men and seven recovered COVID-19 male patients with an average of 3-months after discharge and analyzed their fecal samples by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis to identify the differences in gut microbiota. Our results suggested that the gut microbiota differed in male recovered patients compared with healthy controls, in which a significant difference in Chao index, Simpson index, and β-diversity was observed. And the relative abundance of several bacterial species differed clearly between two groups, characterized by enrichment of opportunistic pathogens and insufficiency of some anti-inflammatory bacteria in producing short chain fatty acids. The above findings provide preliminary clues supporting that the imbalanced gut microbiota may not be fully restored in recovered patients, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring of gut health in people who have recovered from COVID-19.

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Association of subjective global assessment of nutritional status with gut microbiota in hemodialysis patients: a case–control study

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation ◽

10.1093/ndt/gfaa019 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ting-Yun Lin ◽

Szu-Chun Hung

Keyword(s):

Nutritional Status ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Global Assessment ◽

Hemodialysis Patients ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Subjective Global Assessment ◽

Protein Energy Wasting ◽

Β Diversity ◽

Protein Energy ◽

Α Diversity

Abstract Background Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is prevalent and associated with adverse outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the pathogenesis of PEW in CKD patients has not been fully identified. The gut microbiota has been implicated in the regulation of host metabolism and energy balance. Therefore, we aimed to explore the association between nutritional status and the composition of the gut microbiota in hemodialysis patients. Methods Gut microbial diversity and taxonomy were examined in 88 hemodialysis patients with PEW (n = 22) and normal nutritional status (n = 66) who were matched 1:3 for age and sex. Nutritional status was assessed by using the 7-point subjective global assessment (SGA) score (1–3 = severe PEW; 4–5 = moderate PEW and 6–7 = normal nutrition). The gut microbiota was assessed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Results Patients with normal nutritional status had a significantly higher body mass index and physical activity and serum albumin levels, but significantly lower levels of inflammatory cytokines than patients with PEW. The most striking finding was that the α-diversity of the gut microbiota was significantly lower in patients with PEW. In a multivariate analysis, the SGA score was independently and positively associated with α-diversity (P = 0.049). Patients with or without PEW were different with respect to the principal coordinate analysis of β-diversity. Notably, the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, a butyrate-producing bacteria, was markedly reduced in patients with PEW. Conclusion In hemodialysis patients, PEW assessed with the SGA was associated with gut dysbiosis.

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Ongoing Supplementation of Probiotics to Cesarean-Born Neonates during the First Month of Life may Impact the Gut Microbial

American Journal of Perinatology ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1710559 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wenqing Yang ◽

Liang Tian ◽

Jiao Luo ◽

Jialin Yu

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Influencing Factor ◽

Delivery Mode ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Technology ◽

Operational Taxonomic Units ◽

Β Diversity ◽

Α Diversity ◽

Clusters Of Orthologous Groups ◽

And Function

Objective The delivery mode is considered to be a significant influencing factor in the early gut microbiota composition, which is associated with the long-term health of the host. In this study, we tried to explore the effects of probiotics on the intestinal microbiota of C-section neonates. Study Design Twenty-six Chinese neonates were enrolled in this study. The neonates were divided into four groups: VD (natural delivery neonates, n = 3), CD (cesarean-born neonates, n = 9), CDL (cesarean-born neonates supplemented with probiotic at a lower dosage, n = 7), and CDH (cesarean-born neonates supplemented with probiotic at a higher dosage, n = 7). Fecal samples were collected on the 3rd, 7th, and 28th day since birth. The V3–V4 region of the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene was sequenced by next-generation sequencing technology. Results The α-diversity of the intestinal microbiota of cesarean delivery neonates was significantly lower than that of the naturally delivered neonates on the 28th day (p = 0.005). After supplementation with probiotics for 28 days, the α-diversity and the β-diversity of the gut flora in the cesarean-born infants (CDL28 and CDH28) was similar to that in the vaginally delivery infants. Meanwhile, the abundances of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were significantly increased since the 3rd day of probiotic supplementation. Besides, the sustained supplementation of probiotics to neonates would help improve the abundance of the operational taxonomic units in several different Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins. Conclusion This study showed that probiotics supplementation to cesarean-born neonates since birth might impact the diversity and function of gut microbiota. Key Points

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PSVIII-10 Effects of early intervention by fecal microbiota transplantation combined probiotics on the growth performance, intestinal barrier and immunity function, and gut microbiota in sucking piglets

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz258.617 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 305-306

Author(s):

Quanhang Xiang ◽

Jian Peng

Keyword(s):

Early Intervention ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Gut Health ◽

Gut Colonization ◽

Fecal Suspension ◽

Immunity Function

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of early gut colonization by fecal microbiota transplantation and probiotics intervention on growth performance, immunity function, and gut health of piglets. A total of 121 pregnant sows were divided into 6 groups with average parity of 3.66 ± 1.34. After delivery, piglets of group AB were treated with antibiotics at age of 3-day. Piglets of group CON were gavaged with PBS. The remaining four treatment groups, FMT, FMT+C, FMT+S, and FMT+C+S, the piglets were gavaged with fecal suspension, fecal suspension with C. butyricum, fecal suspension with S. boulardii, and fecal suspension with C. butyricum and S.boulardii, respectively, with the frequency of once daily in the first 3 days. All the piglets were weaned at age of 21 day. The individual body weight of piglets were weighed weekly, blood samples and fecal samples were collected weekly. At the end of study, the ADG and diarrhea rate were caculated. FMT+C+S and FMT could increased piglets 21-day-old weight (P < 0.01), and FMT+C+S could increased ADG (P < 0.05) and decreased diarrhea rate (P < 0.05). Early antibiotics exposure for health care has no positive effect on growth performance and diarrhea. FMT, FMT+S and FMT+C+S improved fecal sIgA and plasma IgG of 14-day-old piglets (P < 0.05). FMT+C+S decreased the concentration of plasma DAO and D-LA, and increased fecal MUC2 content, so that the intestinal barrier was enhanced. The early intervention of FMT combined with C. butyricum and S. boulardii reduced the abundance of E. coli, and increased the abundance of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. In addition, it also increases the production of intestinal short-chain fatty acids. In conclusion, these data indicated that early intervention with FMT combined C. butyricum and S. boulardii could improve the growth performance, immune responses, and gut function of sucking piglets.

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