The Protective Effects of 2’-Fucosyllactose Against E. Coli O157 Infection Are Mediated by the Regulation of Gut Microbiota and the Inhibition of Pathogen Adhesion

As the richest component in human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) can reduce the colonization of harmful microbiota in vivo, thus lowering the risk of infection; however, the mechanism for this is still unclear. In this study, a model of Escherichia coli O157 infection in healthy adult mice was established to explore the effect of 2’-FL intervention on E. coli O157 colonization and its protective effects on mice. The results showed that 2’-FL intake reduced E. coli O157 colonization in mice intestine by more than 90% (p < 0.001), and it also reduced intestinal inflammation, increased the content of fecal short-chain fatty acids, and enhanced intestinal barrier function. These beneficial effects were attributed to the increased expression of mucins such as MUC2 (increased by more than 20%, p < 0.001), and inhibition of E. coli O157 cell adhesion (about 30% reduction, p < 0.001), and were associated with the modulation of gut microbiota composition. 2’-FL significantly increased the abundance of Akkermansia, a potential probiotic, which may represent the fundamental means by which 2’-FL enhances the expression of mucin and reduces the colonization of harmful bacteria. The current study may support the use of 2’-FL in the prevention of foodborne pathogen infections in human.

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Electroacupuncture Alleviates Neuroinflammation and Motor Dysfunction by Regulating Intestinal Barrier Function in a Mouse Model of Parkinson Disease

Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology ◽

10.1093/jnen/nlab046 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xue Ma ◽

Qiang Wang ◽

Wei Yuan ◽

Yuan Wang ◽

Feng Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mouse Model ◽

Parkinson Disease ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Motor Dysfunction ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Gastrointestinal Function ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Gastrointestinal Dysfunction ◽

Beneficial Effects

Abstract Gastrointestinal dysfunction is the main nonmotor characteristic of Parkinson disease (PD), manipulation of gastrointestinal function by altering gut-brain axis is a potentially novel entry point for the treatment of PD. Acupuncture has been reported to confer beneficial effects in the gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effects and mechanism of acupuncture on the pathophysiology and gastrointestinal function of PD. A PD mouse model was established by rotenone, and electroacupuncture was used to regulate the gastrointestinal function. Rotenone was found to induce the types of brain pathologies and gastrointestinal dysfunction that are similar to those observed with PD. Electroacupuncture significantly increased the spontaneous activity of mice with PD and increased the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase, while reducing the expression of Iba-1 in substantia nigra (SN), suggesting that motor dysfunction and neurological damage was alleviated. In addition, electroacupuncture significantly reduced the deposition of α-synuclein in both colon and SN, reduced intestinal inflammation, and exerted protective effects on enteric nervous system and intestinal barrier. In conclusion, electroacupuncture confers beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal system of mice with PD and can alleviate neuroinflammation and neuropathic injury by inhibiting intestinal inflammation, promoting intestinal barrier repair and reducing α-synuclein deposition in the colon.

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Dietary resveratrol attenuation of intestinal inflammation and oxidative damage is linked to the alteration of gut microbiota and butyrate in piglets challenged with deoxynivalenol

Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology ◽

10.1186/s40104-021-00596-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yueqin Qiu ◽

Jun Yang ◽

Li Wang ◽

Xuefen Yang ◽

Kaiguo Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Oxidative Damage ◽

Protein Expression ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Control Diet ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Gut Health ◽

Antioxidant Genes ◽

Mrna And Protein Expression

Abstract Background Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a widespread mycotoxin that induces intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress in humans and animals. Resveratrol (RES) effectively exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, the protective effects of RES on alleviating DON toxicity in piglets and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of RES on growth performance, gut health and the gut microbiota in DON-challenged piglets. A total of 64 weaned piglets [Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire), 21-d-old, 6.97 ± 0.10 kg body weight (BW)] were randomly allocated to 4 treatment groups (8 replicate pens per treatment, each pen containing 2 males; n = 16 per treatment) for 28 d. The piglets were fed a control diet (CON) or the CON diet supplemented with 300 mg RES/kg diet (RES group), 3.8 mg DON/kg diet (DON) or both (DON+RES) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Results DON-challenged piglets fed the RES-supplemented diet had significantly decreased D-lactate concentrations and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) mRNA and protein expression, and increased zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) mRNA and protein expression compared with those of DON-challenged piglets fed the unsupplemented diet (P < 0.05). Compared with unsupplemented DON-challenged piglets, infected piglets fed a diet with RES showed significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levelsand increased mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant genes (i.e., GCLC, GCLM, HO-1, SOD1 and NQO-1) and glutamate-cysteine-ligase modulatory subunit (GCLM) protein expression (P < 0.05). Moreover, RES supplementation significantly abrogated the increase in the proportion of TUNEL-positive cells and the protein expression of caspase3 in DON-challenged piglets (P < 0.05). Finally, RES supplementation significantly increased the abundance of Roseburia and butyrate concentrations, while decreasing the abundances of Bacteroides and unidentified-Enterobacteriaceae in DON-challenged piglets compared with DON-challenged piglets alone (P < 0.05). Conclusions RES supplementation improved gut health in DON-challenged piglets by strengthening intestinal barrier function, alleviating intestinal inflammation and oxidative damage, and positively modulating the gut microbiota. The protective effects of RES on gut health may be linked to increased Roseburia and butyrate concentrations, and decreased levels of Bacteroides and unidentified-Enterobacteriaceae.

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The DNA Sensor AIM2 Protects against Streptozotocin-Induced Type 1 Diabetes by Regulating Intestinal Homeostasis via the IL-18 Pathway

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells9040959 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 959 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jefferson Antônio Leite ◽

Gabriela Pessenda ◽

Isabel C. Guerra-Gomes ◽

Alynne Karen Mendonça de Santana ◽

Camila André Pereira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Bacterial Translocation ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Dna Sensor ◽

Proinflammatory Response

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), such as Nod2, Nlrp3, Tlr2, Trl4, and Tlr9, are directly involved in type 1 diabetes (T1D) susceptibility. However, the role of the cytosolic DNA sensor, AIM2, in T1D pathogenesis is still unknown. Here, we demonstrate that C57BL/6 mice lacking AIM2 (AIM2−/−) are prone to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T1D, compared to WT C57BL/6 mice. The AIM2−/− mice phenotype is associated with a greater proinflammatory response in pancreatic tissues, alterations in gut microbiota and bacterial translocation to pancreatic lymph nodes (PLNs). These alterations are related to an increased intestinal permeability mediated by tight-junction disruption. Notably, AIM2−/− mice treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics (ABX) are protected from STZ-induced T1D and display a lower pancreatic proinflammatory response. Mechanistically, the AIM2 inflammasome is activated in vivo, leading to an IL-18 release in the ileum at 15 days after an STZ injection. IL-18 favors RegIIIγ production, thus mitigating gut microbiota alterations and reinforcing the intestinal barrier function. Together, our findings show a regulatory role of AIM2, mediated by IL-18, in shaping gut microbiota and reducing bacterial translocation and proinflammatory response against insulin-producing β cells, which ultimately results in protection against T1D onset in an STZ-induced diabetes model.

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Modulation of gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function during alleviation of antibiotic-associated diarrhea with Rhizoma Zingiber officinale (Ginger) extract

Food & Function ◽

10.1039/d0fo01536a ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 10839-10851

Author(s):

Zhi-jie Ma ◽

Huan-jun Wang ◽

Xiao-jing Ma ◽

Yue Li ◽

Hong-jun Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Zingiber Officinale ◽

Underlying Mechanism ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Ginger Extract ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea

Ginger extract showed beneficial effects on rats with antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and the underlying mechanism might be associated with the recovery of gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function.

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Desmethylbellidifolin Attenuates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis: Impact on Intestinal Barrier, Intestinal Inflammation and Gut Microbiota

Planta Medica ◽

10.1055/a-1506-3476 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jiaqi Wu ◽

Yuzheng Wu ◽

Yue Chen ◽

Mengyang Liu ◽

Haiyang Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ulcerative Colitis ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Dextran Sulfate ◽

Dextran Sulfate Sodium ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Activity Index ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Function Evaluation ◽

Biological Drugs

AbstractUlcerative colitis has been recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease predominantly disturbing the colon and rectum. Clinically, the aminosalicylates, steroids, immunosuppressants, and biological drugs are generally used for the treatment of ulcerative colitis at different stages of disease progression. However, the therapeutic efficacy of these drugs does not satisfy the patients due to the frequent drug resistance. Herein, we reported the anti-ulcerative colitis activity of desmethylbellidifolin, a xanthone isolated from Gentianella acuta, in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice. C57BL/6 mice were treated with 2% dextran sulfate sodium in drinking water to induce acute colitis. Desmethylbellidifolin or balsalazide sodium was orally administrated once a day. Biological samples were collected for immunohistological analysis, intestinal barrier function evaluation, cytokine measurement, and gut microbiota analysis. The results revealed that desmethylbellidifolin alleviated colon shortening and body weight loss in dextran sulfate sodium-induced mice. The disease activity index was also lowered by desmethylbellidifolin after 9 days of treatment. Furthermore, desmethylbellidifolin remarkably ameliorated colonic inflammation through suppressing the expression of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. The intestinal epithelial barrier was strengthened by desmethylbellidifolin through increasing levels of occludin, ZO-1, and claudins. In addition, desmethylbellidifolin modulated the gut dysbiosis induced by dextran sulfate sodium. These findings suggested that desmethylbellidifolin effectively improved experimental ulcerative colitis, at least partly, through maintaining intestinal barrier integrity, inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines, and modulating dysregulated gut microbiota.

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Effects of Dietary Fibres on Acute Indomethacin-Induced Intestinal Hyperpermeability in the Elderly: A Randomised Placebo Controlled Parallel Clinical Trial

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12071954 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 1954

Author(s):

John-Peter Ganda Mall ◽

Frida Fart ◽

Julia A. Sabet ◽

Carl Mårten Lindqvist ◽

Ragnhild Nestestog ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

The Elderly ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Dietary Fibres ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition

The effect of dietary fibres on intestinal barrier function has not been well studied, especially in the elderly. We aimed to investigate the potential of the dietary fibres oat β-glucan and wheat arabinoxylan to strengthen the intestinal barrier function and counteract acute non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (indomethacin)-induced hyperpermeability in the elderly. A general population of elderly subjects (≥65 years, n = 49) was randomised to a daily supplementation (12g/day) of oat β-glucan, arabinoxylan or placebo (maltodextrin) for six weeks. The primary outcome was change in acute indomethacin-induced intestinal permeability from baseline, assessed by an in vivo multi-sugar permeability test. Secondary outcomes were changes from baseline in: gut microbiota composition, systemic inflammatory status and self-reported health. Despite a majority of the study population (85%) showing a habitual fibre intake below the recommendation, no significant effects on acute indomethacin-induced intestinal hyperpermeability in vivo or gut microbiota composition were observed after six weeks intervention with either dietary fibre, compared to placebo.

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The Intestinal Fate of Citrus Flavanones and Their Effects on Gastrointestinal Health

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11071464 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1464 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Yala Stevens ◽

Evelien Van Rymenant ◽

Charlotte Grootaert ◽

John Van Camp ◽

Sam Possemiers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Barrier Function ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Human Subjects ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Intestinal Bacteria ◽

Intestinal Microbiome ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Gastrointestinal Health ◽

Beneficial Effects

Citrus flavanones, with hesperidin and naringin as the most abundant representatives, have various beneficial effects, including anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Evidence also indicates that they may impact the intestinal microbiome and are metabolized by the microbiota as well, thereby affecting their bioavailability. In this review, we provide an overview on the current evidence on the intestinal fate of hesperidin and naringin, their interaction with the gut microbiota, and their effects on intestinal barrier function and intestinal inflammation. These topics will be discussed as they may contribute to gastrointestinal health in various diseases. Evidence shows that hesperidin and naringin are metabolized by intestinal bacteria, mainly in the (proximal) colon, resulting in the formation of their aglycones hesperetin and naringenin and various smaller phenolics. Studies have also shown that citrus flavanones and their metabolites are able to influence the microbiota composition and activity and exert beneficial effects on intestinal barrier function and gastrointestinal inflammation. Although the exact underlying mechanisms of action are not completely clear and more research in human subjects is needed, evidence so far suggests that citrus flavanones as well as their metabolites have the potential to contribute to improved gastrointestinal function and health.

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Gut Microbiome: Profound Implications for Diet and Disease

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11071613 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1613 ◽

Cited By ~ 83

Author(s):

Ronald Hills ◽

Benjamin Pontefract ◽

Hillary Mishcon ◽

Cody Black ◽

Steven Sutton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Intestinal Bacteria ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

E Coli ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Microbial Profile ◽

Irritable Bowel ◽

Prebiotic Fiber

The gut microbiome plays an important role in human health and influences the development of chronic diseases ranging from metabolic disease to gastrointestinal disorders and colorectal cancer. Of increasing prevalence in Western societies, these conditions carry a high burden of care. Dietary patterns and environmental factors have a profound effect on shaping gut microbiota in real time. Diverse populations of intestinal bacteria mediate their beneficial effects through the fermentation of dietary fiber to produce short-chain fatty acids, endogenous signals with important roles in lipid homeostasis and reducing inflammation. Recent progress shows that an individual’s starting microbial profile is a key determinant in predicting their response to intervention with live probiotics. The gut microbiota is complex and challenging to characterize. Enterotypes have been proposed using metrics such as alpha species diversity, the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes phyla, and the relative abundance of beneficial genera (e.g., Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia) versus facultative anaerobes (E. coli), pro-inflammatory Ruminococcus, or nonbacterial microbes. Microbiota composition and relative populations of bacterial species are linked to physiologic health along different axes. We review the role of diet quality, carbohydrate intake, fermentable FODMAPs, and prebiotic fiber in maintaining healthy gut flora. The implications are discussed for various conditions including obesity, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, depression, and cardiovascular disease.

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Effects of flavonoids on intestinal inflammation, barrier integrity and changes in gut microbiota during diet-induced obesity

Nutrition Research Reviews ◽

10.1017/s0954422416000159 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 234-248 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

Katherine Gil-Cardoso ◽

Iris Ginés ◽

Montserrat Pinent ◽

Anna Ardévol ◽

Mayte Blay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Insulin Resistance ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Mucosal Barrier ◽

Low Grade ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Barrier Integrity ◽

Diet Induced Obesity

AbstractDiet-induced obesity is associated with low-grade inflammation, which, in most cases, leads to the development of metabolic disorders, primarily insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Although prior studies have implicated the adipose tissue as being primarily responsible for obesity-associated inflammation, the latest discoveries have correlated impairments in intestinal immune homeostasis and the mucosal barrier with increased activation of the inflammatory pathways and the development of insulin resistance. Therefore, it is essential to define the mechanisms underlying the obesity-associated gut alterations to develop therapies to prevent and treat obesity and its associated diseases. Flavonoids appear to be promising candidates among the natural preventive treatments that have been identified to date. They have been shown to protect against several diseases, including CVD and various cancers. Furthermore, they have clear anti-inflammatory properties, which have primarily been evaluated in non-intestinal models. At present, a growing body of evidence suggests that flavonoids could exert a protective role against obesity-associated pathologies by modulating inflammatory-related cellular events in the intestine and/or the composition of the microbiota populations. The present paper will review the literature to date that has described the protective effects of flavonoids on intestinal inflammation, barrier integrity and gut microbiota in studies conducted using in vivo and in vitro models.

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Cereus sinensis Polysaccharide Alleviates Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea Based on Modulating the Gut Microbiota in C57BL/6 Mice

Frontiers in Nutrition ◽

10.3389/fnut.2021.751992 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Mingxiao Cui ◽

Yu Wang ◽

Jeevithan Elango ◽

Junwen Wu ◽

Kehai Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Interleukin 2 ◽

Intestinal Flora ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea

The present study investigated whether the purified polysaccharide from Cereus sinensis (CSP-1) had beneficial effects on mice with antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). The effects of CSP-1 on gut microbiota were evaluated by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that CSP-1 increased the diversity and richness of gut microbiota. CSP-1 enriched Phasecolarctobacterium, Bifidobacterium and reduced the abundance of Parabacteroides, Sutterella, Coprobacillus to near normal levels, modifying the gut microbial community. Microbial metabolites were further analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results indicated CSP-1 promoted the production of various short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and significantly improved intestinal microflora dysfunction in AAD mice. In addition, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and hematoxylin-eosin staining were used to assess the effects of CSP-1 on cytokine levels and intestinal tissue in AAD mice. Results demonstrated that CSP-1 inhibited the secretion of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and improved the intestinal barrier. Correspondingly, the daily records also showed that CSP-1 promoted recovery of diarrhea status score, water intake and body weight in mice with AAD. In short, CSP-1 helped alleviate AAD by regulating the inflammatory cytokines, altering the composition and richness of intestinal flora, promoting the production of SCFAs, improving the intestinal barrier as well as reversing the dysregulated microbiota function.

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