Exploring the Role of Inulin in Targeting the Gut Microbiota: An Innovative Strategy for Alleviating Colonic Fibrosis...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Oncology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Radiation therapy for pelvic and abdominal cancers can cause radiation enteropathy.
• Chronic colonic fibrosis is a common gastrointestinal complication of radiation therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of inulin supplements in preventing radiation-induced colonic fibrosis.
• To explore the role of gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in this protective effect.

Main Methods:

• Administered inulin supplements to mice undergoing irradiation.
• Transplanted gut microbiota and fecal metabolites from inulin-treated mice into a mouse model of radiation enteropathy.
• Assessed gene expression related to fibrosis and extracellular matrix synthesis in NIH/3T3 cells treated with inulin-derived metabolites.

Main Results:

• Inulin supplementation reduced colonic fibrosis in a mouse model.
• Transplantation of microbiota and metabolites from inulin-treated mice ameliorated colonic fibrosis.
• Inulin-derived metabolites significantly decreased the expression of fibrosis-related genes and collagen production in NIH/3T3 cells.
• These metabolites also suppressed genes involved in the extracellular matrix synthesis pathway.

Conclusions:

• Inulin shows promise as a protective agent against radiation-induced colonic fibrosis.
• The mechanism involves modulation of gut microbiota, SCFA production, and subsequent reduction in fibrotic pathways.