Maternal prebiotic supplementation impacts colitis development in offspring mice.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Nutrition
• Immunology and Microbiology

Background:

• Maternal diet significantly influences offspring's chronic disease risk, including allergies.
• Prebiotics in maternal diets may impact offspring's intestinal health and permeability.
• The effect of maternal prebiotics on offspring's susceptibility to colitis is unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of maternal prebiotic supplementation during gestation on the development of colitis in offspring.
• To evaluate if maternal prebiotics alter offspring's response to chemically induced colitis.

Main Methods:

• Pregnant mice received prebiotics (galacto-oligosaccharides and inulin) or a control diet.
• Offspring were subjected to dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) treatment to induce chronic colitis.
• Evaluated intestinal function, disease activity, colonic remodeling, gut microbiota, and molecular profiles (lipidomics, transcriptomics).

Main Results:

• Offspring from prebiotic-fed mothers exhibited exacerbated colitis, with higher disease scores, weight loss, and fecal humidity.
• Increased colonic lymphocytes and macrophages were observed, alongside altered lipid mediators (resolvin D5, protectin DX) and gene expression.
• Maternal prebiotics led to an overabundance of specific bacterial families and reduced butyrate levels in DSS-treated offspring.

Conclusions:

• Maternal prebiotic exposure alters offspring's colonic microbiota, lipid content, and transcriptome.
• These modifications did not confer protection against colitis.
• Maternal prebiotic supplementation sensitized offspring to colitis development.