IDDF2022-ABS-0218 The modulation of intestinal inflammation by parabacteroides goldsteinii in dextran sodium sulfate induced colitis in mice

Background

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), comprised mainly of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are characterized by chronic and relapsing intestinal inflammation. Though the etiology of IBDs is not entirely understood, it is thought that an imbalance of the gut microbiota is one contributing factor, making it a potential target for the treatment of IBDs. This study aims to examine how the potential probiotic Parabacteroides goldsteinii modulates intestinal inflammation in the context of experimental colitis.

Methods

Wild-type C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups. One group was given phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) via oral gavage without any further treatment. The second group was treated with 1% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) for twelve days to induce colitis and given PBS via oral gavage every three days. Finally, the third group was also treated with 1% DSS for twelve days and given live P. goldsteinii via oral gavage every three days. Weight loss, stool consistency, and intestinal bleeding were monitored and were used to calculate the Disease Activity Index (DAI) daily. Postmortem, colon length was measured, and inflammation score was evaluated on hematoxylin and eosin-stained samples of the colon and spleen.

Results

Colonization was confirmed on day three after gavage by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Preliminary results show that DSS-treated mice receiving only PBS lost significantly more weight by day twelve than mice colonized with P. goldsteinii. Additionally, on days eight and twelve, mice colonized with P. goldsteinii had significantly lower DAI scores than DSS-treated mice that received only PBS. Finally, mice colonized with P. goldsteinii had significantly longer colons than those treated with DSS that received only PBS.

Conclusions

The preliminary data indicate that mice colonized with P. goldsteinii had less severe symptoms of colitis than mice only given PBS. This suggests that P. goldsteinii may attenuate inflammation in mice treated with DSS.