Baicalin Protects Against Hypertension-Associated Intestinal Barrier Impairment in Part Through Enhanced Microbial Production of Short-Chain Fatty Acids

The efficiency of rumen microbial production (EMP)in vitroandin vivowas examined for three roughages (lucerne (Medicago sativaL.) hay, oat (Avenia sativaL.)–berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinumcultivar BigBee) hay and maize (Zea maysL.) crop residue (MCR)) and for five isonitrogenous (106 g crude protein (N × 6·25)/kg) diets formulated from lucerne hay, oat–berseem clover hay, MCR, soya-bean meal and maize grain to provide degradable intake protein for the production of 130 g microbial protein/kg total digestible nutrients. EMPin vivowas determined by intestinal purine recovery in sheep and ranged from 240 to 360 g microbial biomass/kg organic matter truly degraded in MCR and in one of the diets respectively (P<0·05). EMPin vitrowas estimated by the substrate degraded: gas volume produced thereby (termed partitioning factor, PF (mg/ml)) at times of estimated peak microbial production and after 16·0 and 24·0h of incubation. For the diets, PF values were significantly related to EMPin vivoat peak microbial production (P= 0·04), but not after 16·0 (P= 0·08) and 24·0h (P= 0·66). For roughages, PF values were significantly related to EMPin vivoonly when measured after 16·0 h (P= 0·04). For MCR and diets, a close non-linear relationship was found between PF values at peak microbial production and EMPin vivo(R20·99,P<0·0001) suggesting a maximum EMPin vivoof 0·39. Low gas production per unit substrate degraded (high PF) was associated with high EMPin vivo.Thein vitrostudy of the products of fermentation, short-chain fatty acids, gases and microbial biomass (by purine analysis) after 16·0h of incubation showed very strong relationships (R2≥ 0·89,P<0·0001) between short-chain fatty acids, gases and gravimetrically measured apparent degradability. Except for maize grain, the true degradability of organic matter estimated by neutral-detergent solution treatment agreed with the sum of the products of fermentation (R20·81,P=0·0004). After 16·0h of incubation, the synergistic effects of diet ingredient on diets were greater for microbial biomass (18%) than for short-chain fatty acids and gas production (7 %). It is concluded that measurement of gas production only gives incomplete information about fodder quality; complementation of gas measurements by true degradability measurements is recommended.

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Influenza infection impairs the gut’s barrier properties and favors secondary enteric bacterial infection through reduced production of short-chain fatty acids

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00734-20 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Valentin Sencio ◽

Alexandre Gallerand ◽

Marina Gomes Machado ◽

Lucie Deruyter ◽

Séverine Heumel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Influenza A ◽

Influenza Infection ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Barrier Properties ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Short Chain ◽

Chain Fatty Acids

Along with respiratory tract disease per se , viral respiratory infections can also cause extrapulmonary complications with a potentially critical impact on health. In the present study, we used an experimental model of influenza A virus (IAV) infection to investigate the nature and outcome of the associated gut disorders. In IAV-infected mice, the signs of intestinal injury and inflammation, altered gene expression, and compromised intestinal barrier functions peaked on day 7 post-infection. As a likely result of bacterial component translocation, gene expression of inflammatory markers was upregulated in the liver. These changes occurred concomitantly with an alteration of the composition of the gut microbiota and with a decreased production of the fermentative, gut microbiota-derived, products short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Gut inflammation and barrier dysfunction during influenza were not attributed to reduced food consumption, which caused in part gut dysbiosis. Treatment of IAV-infected mice with SCFAs was associated with an enhancement of intestinal barrier properties, as assessed by a reduction in translocation of dextran and a decrease in inflammatory gene expression in the liver. Lastly, SCFA supplementation during influenza tended to reduce the translocation of the enteric pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and to enhance the survival of doubly infected animals. Collectively, influenza infection can remotely impair the gut’s barrier properties and trigger secondary enteric infections. The latter phenomenon can be partially countered by SCFA supplementation.

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Use of Short-Chain Fatty Acids for the Recovery of the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Affected by Bacterial Toxins

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2021.650313 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Diliana Pérez-Reytor ◽

Carlos Puebla ◽

Eduardo Karahanian ◽

Katherine García

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Tight Junction ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Enteric Pathogens ◽

Short Chain ◽

Intestinal Lumen ◽

Barrier Integrity ◽

Intestinal Barrier Integrity ◽

Chain Fatty Acids

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are carboxylic acids produced as a result of gut microbial anaerobic fermentation. They activate signaling cascades, acting as ligands of G-protein-coupled receptors, such as GPR41, GPR43, and GPR109A, that can modulate the inflammatory response and increase the intestinal barrier integrity by enhancing the tight junction proteins functions. These junctions, located in the most apical zone of epithelial cells, control the diffusion of ions, macromolecules, and the entry of microorganisms from the intestinal lumen into the tissues. In this sense, several enteric pathogens secrete diverse toxins that interrupt tight junction impermeability, allowing them to invade the intestinal tissue and to favor gastrointestinal colonization. It has been recently demonstrated that SCFAs inhibit the virulence of different enteric pathogens and have protective effects against bacterial colonization. Here, we present an overview of SCFAs production by gut microbiota and their effects on the recovery of intestinal barrier integrity during infections by microorganisms that affect tight junctions. These properties make them excellent candidates in the treatment of infectious diseases that cause damage to the intestinal epithelium.

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