Hexadecanamide alleviates experimental colitis in mice and modifies the gut microbiome

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Immunology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Hexadecanamide (HEX) exhibits anti-inflammatory properties.
• Its precise mechanisms in colitis are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of HEX in DSS-induced colitis.
• To explore HEX's impact on intestinal barrier, inflammation, ferroptosis, and gut microbiota.

Main Methods:

• Oral administration of HEX in DSS-induced colitis mouse model.
• Assessment of intestinal barrier integrity and colonic inflammation.
• Analysis of ferroptosis, autophagy, and ferritinophagy.
• 16S rRNA sequencing for gut microbial composition analysis.
• Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to validate microbial effects.

Main Results:

• HEX alleviated DSS-induced colitis, improving intestinal barrier function and reducing inflammation.
• HEX inhibited DSS-induced ferroptosis by suppressing autophagy and ferritinophagy, thereby blocking lipid peroxidation.
• HEX modulated gut microbiota, increasing Actinobacteriota and Patescibacteria while decreasing Firmicutes.
• FMT from HEX-treated mice conferred protective effects against colitis.

Conclusions:

• HEX ameliorates DSS-induced colitis through anti-inflammatory actions, enhanced barrier integrity, and gut microbial regulation.
• HEX's mechanism involves suppressing ferroptosis via autophagy and ferritinophagy inhibition.
• HEX shows potential as a novel therapeutic strategy for colitis management.