Faecalibacterium prausnitzii supernatant ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium induced colitis by regulating Th17 cell differentiation.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the preventive and therapeutic effects of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii) supernatant on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis in mice.


METHODS
Forty C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into four groups: control group, model group, treatment group, and prevention group. Mice were weighed daily. On day 10, the colon length was measured, the colorectal histopathologic damage score (HDS) was assessed, and plasma interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-6, and IL-4 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of transcription factor retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-γt (RORγt) and IL-17A in colon inflammatory mucosa tissue were determined by immunohistochemical assay, and the expression levels of RORγt mRNA, IL-17A mRNA, and IL-6 mRNA were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The proportion of Th17 in mononuclear cells in spleen was assayed by fluorescence activated cell sorter.


RESULTS
When compared with the model group, the colon length (P < 0.05) and body weight (P < 0.01) in the treatment and prevention groups were significantly increased, and the colon HDS was decreased (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference between the treatment group and prevention group. After treatment with F. prausnitzii supernatant, the plasma levels of IL-17A and IL-6 (P < 0.05), the protein and mRNA expression of IL-17A and RORγt, and the Th17 cell ratio of spleen cells (P < 0.01) were significantly decreased compared to the model group. Plasma IL-4 level in the prevention group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between these two groups in the expression of IL-6 in both the plasma and colon mucosa tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
F. prausnitzii supernatant exerts protective and therapeutic effects on DSS-induced colitis in mice, probably via inhibition of Th17 differentiation and IL-17A secretion in the plasma and colon mucosa tissues. It can also improve colitis in mice by downregulating IL-6 and prevent colitis by upregulating IL-4.
Xiao-Li Huang, Yan-Ping Hao, Yan-Qiu Yu, Cheng-Gong Yu, Department of Gastroenterology, Gulou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China.
Xiao-Li
XL
Huang
Xiao-Li Huang, Yan-Ping Hao, Yan-Qiu Yu, Cheng-Gong Yu, Department of Gastroenterology, Gulou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China.
Xin
X
Zhang
Xiao-Li Huang, Yan-Ping Hao, Yan-Qiu Yu, Cheng-Gong Yu, Department of Gastroenterology, Gulou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China.
Xian-Yan
XY
Fei
Xiao-Li Huang, Yan-Ping Hao, Yan-Qiu Yu, Cheng-Gong Yu, Department of Gastroenterology, Gulou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China.
Zhao-Gui
ZG
Chen
Xiao-Li Huang, Yan-Ping Hao, Yan-Qiu Yu, Cheng-Gong Yu, Department of Gastroenterology, Gulou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China.
Yan-Ping
YP
Hao
Xiao-Li Huang, Yan-Ping Hao, Yan-Qiu Yu, Cheng-Gong Yu, Department of Gastroenterology, Gulou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China.
Shu
S
Zhang
Xiao-Li Huang, Yan-Ping Hao, Yan-Qiu Yu, Cheng-Gong Yu, Department of Gastroenterology, Gulou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China.
Ming-Ming
MM
Zhang
Xiao-Li Huang, Yan-Ping Hao, Yan-Qiu Yu, Cheng-Gong Yu, Department of Gastroenterology, Gulou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China.
Yan-Qiu
YQ
Yu
Xiao-Li Huang, Yan-Ping Hao, Yan-Qiu Yu, Cheng-Gong Yu, Department of Gastroenterology, Gulou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China.
Cheng-Gong
CG
Yu
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003092:Colitis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D000070037:Faecalibacterium prausnitzii / Q000378:metabolism*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; C098680:Il17a protein, mouse; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D020381:Interleukin-17; D015850:Interleukin-6; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C539901:Rorc protein, mouse; C577686:interleukin-6, mouse; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016264:Dextran Sulfate
Animal model; Faecalibacterium prausnitzii; Prevention; Th17 cell; Treatment; Ulcerative colitis