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Published on: January 5, 2017
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii supernatant improves intestinal barrier function in mice DSS colitis
Anders H Carlsson1, Olena Yakymenko, Isabelle Olivier
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, and Department of Surgery, County Council of Östergötland , Linköping , Sweden.
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology
|August 27, 2013
Summary
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (FP) supernatant improved intestinal barrier function in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This suggests FP may be a potential treatment for IBD by enhancing gut health.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- The intestinal microbiota is crucial in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis.
- Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (FP) is reduced in IBD patients and may possess anti-inflammatory properties.
- The impact of FP on intestinal barrier function, a common IBD feature, remains unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of FP supernatant on intestinal barrier function.
- To evaluate FP supernatant's efficacy in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model.
Main Methods:
- Induction of colitis in C57BL/6 mice using 3% DSS.
- Daily gavage with FP supernatant or control broth.
- Ussing chamber experiments to measure ileal and colonic permeability using (51)Cr-EDTA and Escherichia coli K-12.
- Western blot analysis of tight junction proteins in colonic tissue.
Main Results:
- DSS-induced colitis mice exhibited weight loss and colon shortening.
- FP supernatant treatment accelerated recovery and reduced colonic shortening post-DSS.
- Ileal permeability increased in DSS mice but decreased with FP supernatant treatment.
- No significant changes in E. coli K-12 passage were observed.
- A trend towards increased claudin-1 and claudin-2 expression was noted in DSS mice.
Conclusions:
- FP supernatant enhances intestinal barrier function by modulating paracellular permeability.
- FP supernatant may mitigate the severity of DSS-induced colitis.
- These findings highlight a potential therapeutic role for FP in managing IBD.

