title: Gelatin tannate ameliorates acute colitis in mice by reinforcing mucus layer and modulating gut microbiota composition: Emerging role for 'gut barrier protectors' in IBD?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gelatin tannate, a gelatin powder containing tannic acids, is commonly employed as an intestinal astringent. Neither information nor animal model exist to confirm its efficacy or unravel mechanisms of action.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the action of gelatin tannate in murine dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced acute colitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were exposed to DSS and received gelatin tannate by gavage. At sacrifice, colon histological degree of inflammation was assessed. Stool samples were cultured for microbiological analysis. Colon samples were analysed by two-photon confocal microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Elisa was performed on murine serum to assess lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gelatin tannate treatment reduced disease activity, bodyweight loss, and preserved colonic length. It produced a decrease in the amount of enterobacteria and enterococci. At confocal microscopy, intestinal samples from healthy and treated mice displayed similar structure in mucus layer thickness and composition; samples from placebo group had no mucus layer or a thinner stratus. Atomic force microscopy confirmed these findings. Treated mice showed lower blood LPS levels vs. control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gelatin tannate decreased the severity of colitis. Acting as a gut barrier enhancer, it re-establishes gut homeostasis by recovering intestinal permeability and mucus layer integrity in gut mucosa and by modulating microbiota composition.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scaldaferri
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Loris Riccardo
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Lopetuso
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Petito
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cufino
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mirna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilotta
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Egidio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stigliano
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maulucci
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papi
authors.affiliation: Centro di Ricerche Sperimentali, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Caristo Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Emiliana
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poscia
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delogu
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanguinetti
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco De
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Spirito
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sgambato
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
keywords: DSS-acute colitis; gelatin tannate; gut barrier; gut microbiota; intestinal mucus