Colonization of fecal microbiota from patients with neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis exacerbates intestinal injury in germfree mice subjected to necrotizing enterocolitis-induction protocol via alterations in butyrate and regulatory T cells

He, Yu2,4,5,6,7; Du, Weixia2,4,5,6,7; Xiao, Sa2,4,5,6,7; Zeng, Benhua8; She, Xiang2,4,5,6,7; Liu, Dong9; Du, Hua5,6; Li, Luquan2,4,5,6,7; Li, Fang2,4,5,6,7; Ai, Qing2,4,5,6,7; He, Junli3; Song, Chao12; Wei, Hong10; Zhao, Xiaodong4,5,6,7,11; Yu, Jialin1,3,4,5,6,7

2021-12-18

10.1186/s12967-021-03109-5

JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE   影响因子和分区

1479-5876

Background Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains a life-threatening disease in neonates. Numerous studies have shown a correlation between the intestinal microbiota and NEC, but the causal link remains unclear. This study aimed to demonstrate the causal role of gut microbiota in NEC and explore potential mechanisms involved. Methods Eighty-one fecal samples from patients with NEC and eighty-one matched controls (matched to the NEC infants by gestational age, birth weight, date of birth, mode of delivery and feeding patterns) were collected. To explore if altered gut microbiota contributes to the pathogenesis of NEC, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was carried out in germ-free (GF) mice prior to a NEC-induction protocol that included exposure to hypoxia and cold stress. Butyric acid was also administered to demonstrate its role in NEC. The fecal microbiota from patients and mice were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. Short chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The ontogeny of T cells and regulatory T cells (T-regs) in lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) from the ileum of patients and mice were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry.The transcription of inflammatory cytokines was quantified by qRT-PCR. Results NEC patients had increased Proteobacteria and decreased Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes compared to fecal control samples, and the level of butyric acid in the NEC group was lower than the control group. FMT in GF mice with samples from NEC patients achieved a higher histological injury scores when compared to mice that received FMT with control samples. Alterations in microbiota and butyrate levels were maintained in mice following FMT. The ratio of T-reg/CD4(+)T (T-helper) cells was reduced in both NEC patients and mice modeling NEC following FMT. Conclusions The microbiota was found to have NEC and the microbial butyrate-T-reg axis was identified as a potential mechanism for the observed effects.

Necrotizing enterocolitis Fecal microbiota transplantation Gut microbiota Germ free Butyric acid

SCI

英语

通讯

National Natural Science Foundation of China[81401236,81571483,81971431,82001602] ; Project of Chongqing Educational Commission[KJQN201800410] ; Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Free Exploration Project[JCYJ20170817100735621] ; Scientific Research Fund of Shenzhen University General Hospital[SUGH2020QD003] ; Shenzhen Healthcare Research Project[201605003]

Research & Experimental Medicine

Medicine, Research & Experimental

WOS:000731395300001

BMC

Web of Science

1.Southern Univ Sci & Technol Hosp, Dept Pediat, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
2.Chongqing Med Univ, Dept Neonatol, Childrens Hosp, Chongqing, Peoples R China
3.Shenzhen Univ Clin Med Acad, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
4.Chongqing Key Lab Pediat, Chongqing, Peoples R China
5.Minist Educ Key Lab Child Dev & Disorders, Chongqing, Peoples R China
6.Natl Clin Res Ctr Child Hlth & Disorder, Chongqing, Peoples R China
7.China Int Sci & Technol Cooperat Base Child Dev &, Chongqing, Peoples R China
8.Army Med Univ, Dept Lab Anim Sci, Coll Basic Med Sci, Chongqing, Peoples R China
9.Shenzhen Peoples Hosp, Dept Neonatol, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
10.Sun Yat Sen Univ, Precis Med Inst, Affiliated Hosp 1, Guangzhou, Peoples R China
11.Chongqing Med Univ, Dept Immunol, Childrens Hosp, Chongqing, Peoples R China
12.Zhejiang Univ, Childrens Hosp, Sch Med, Natl Clin Res Ctr Child Hlth, Hangzhou, Peoples R China

He, Yu,Du, Weixia,Xiao, Sa,et al. Colonization of fecal microbiota from patients with neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis exacerbates intestinal injury in germfree mice subjected to necrotizing enterocolitis-induction protocol via alterations in butyrate and regulatory T cells[J]. JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE,2021,19(1).

He, Yu.,Du, Weixia.,Xiao, Sa.,Zeng, Benhua.,She, Xiang.,...&Yu, Jialin.(2021).Colonization of fecal microbiota from patients with neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis exacerbates intestinal injury in germfree mice subjected to necrotizing enterocolitis-induction protocol via alterations in butyrate and regulatory T cells.JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE,19(1).

He, Yu,et al."Colonization of fecal microbiota from patients with neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis exacerbates intestinal injury in germfree mice subjected to necrotizing enterocolitis-induction protocol via alterations in butyrate and regulatory T cells".JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 19.1(2021).