Background
Isoorientin (ISO) is a naturally-occurring flavonoid with diverse functional properties that mitigate the risk of diseases stemming from oxidation, inflammation and cancer cell proliferation. P-glycoprotein (P-GP) is a vital component of the intestinal epithelium, and alterations in P-gp expression and functionality may play a role in the onset of intestinal inflammatory conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recent studies have suggested that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and secondary bile acids produced by the gut microbiota, stimulate the increase in operational P-gp expression, alleviating excessive inflammation, and thereby aid the preservation of intestinal homeostasis. ISO has been shown to improve colon health and modulate gut microbiota. However, whether ISO can modulate the microbes and their metabolites to influence P-gp expression to alleviate IBD is unknown.
Results
First, the impact of ISO on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated colitis was investigated in mice. The present study indicated that ISO mitigated the symptoms and pathological damage associated with DSS-treated colitis in mice with ulcerative colitis. Western blot analysis revealed that ISO upregulated P-gp in colon tissues (P < 0.05), suggesting the critical role of P-gp protein in intestinal epithelial cells. It was speculated that ISO may maintain intestinal homeostasis by upregulating functional P-gp expression in the intestinal epithelium. 16S microbial diversity sequencing revealed that ISO restored the richness and variety of intestinal microorganisms in colitis-bearing mice and enriched short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, such as Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group. The experiments also revealed that the ISO fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) inoculation of DSS-treated mice had similarly beneficial results. FMT mice showed a reduction in colitis symptoms, which was being more pronounced in ISO-FMT than in CON-FMT mice. Meanwhile, ISO-FMT expanded the abundance of beneficial microorganisms such as the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, increased the expression of metabolites, such as SCFAs and total serum bile acids (SBAs), and significantly upregulated the expression level of P-gp protein. In addition, Spearman’s correlation analysis of metabolites demonstrated a positive correlation between the production of SCFAs and SBAs and the expression of P-gp.
Conclusion
The present study identified that ISO affects the heightened expression of P-gp in the intestinal epithelium by regulating intestinal microorganisms and their metabolites, which maintains colonic homeostasis, improves the integrity of the colonic epithelium, and alleviates colitis.