Short-Chain Inulin-Like Fructans Reduce Endotoxin and Bacterial Translocations and Attenuate Development of TNBS-Induced Colitis in Rats

Abstract

Anti-inflammatory effects of short-chain inulin-like fructans (SCF) on trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis were investigated in rats, focusing specifically on endotoxin and bacterial translocations. SCF with degrees of polymerization (DP) of 4 and 8 were used. Rats were fed either control diet or diets including 60 g DP4 or DP8 per kilogram for 7 days, and then received intracolonic TNBS and were fed the respective diets for a further 10 days. DP4 and DP8 significantly reduced colonic injuries as assessed by damage score, but the reduction of colonic myeloperoxidase activity was manifest solely with DP8. At 3 days after colitis induction, bacterial translocation to the mesenteric lymph node was significantly lower in the DP4 and DP8 groups, but significant reduction in the portal endotoxin concentration was achieved solely in the DP8 group. Immediately prior to colitis induction, cecal immunoglobulin A and mucin concentrations were higher in the DP4 and DP8 groups, but these changes were abolished at 10 days post colitis induction. The data suggest that SCF exert prophylactic effects against TNBS colitis, presumably as a result of inhibitory effects on endotoxin and bacterial translocations.

Ameliorating Effects of Short-Chain Inulin-Like Fructans on the Healing Stage of Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid-Induced Colitis in Rats

“…217C-11, as described previously. 7,19) Care of the animals. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (SPF) were purchased from Shizuoka Laboratory Animal Center (Hamamatsu, Japan).…”

“…The colonic MPO activity was determined as previously described. 7) Briefly, the colon was minced and homogenized by a Polytron device in a 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) containing 0.5% hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide. The resulting homogenate was subjected to three cycles of freezethawing and sonication, and then centrifuged at 20;000 Â g for 30 min.…”

“…[3][4][5][6] Prebiotic and probiotic treatments also have the potential to increase both luminal mucin and IgA that are related to the mucosal barrier function against bacteria and endotoxin translocation. 7,8) We have previously shown that pre-treating shortchain inulin-like fructans (SIF), with average degrees of polymerization (DP) of 4 (virtually the same as fructooligosaccharides) and 8, exerted preventive effects on the acute phase of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats. 7) SIF, and DP8 in particular, increased the cecal concentrations of SCFA, mucin and IgA before the induction of colitis, and reduced bacterial and endotoxin translocation to the mesenteric lymph node and portal blood 3 d after the TNBS administration.…”

“…7,8) We have previously shown that pre-treating shortchain inulin-like fructans (SIF), with average degrees of polymerization (DP) of 4 (virtually the same as fructooligosaccharides) and 8, exerted preventive effects on the acute phase of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats. 7) SIF, and DP8 in particular, increased the cecal concentrations of SCFA, mucin and IgA before the induction of colitis, and reduced bacterial and endotoxin translocation to the mesenteric lymph node and portal blood 3 d after the TNBS administration. However, these beneficial effects of DP4 and DP8 on the cecal valuables were abolished 10 d after the TNBS administration, despite the significant reduction of colonic inflammation.…”

“…We therefore assumed that these anti-inflammatory effects of SIF might be exerted through a shield-like effect against endotoxin and bacterial translocation at the early stage of colitis, leading to the reduced colonic damage 10 d after the induction of colitis. 7) A number of studies examining the effects of prebiotics, including dietary fiber and probiotics, on TNBSinduced rat colitis have already been reported, but most of them evaluated the preventive effects in the acute phase of colitis within 1-2 weeks after TNBS administration; 5,6,[9][10][11][12] the outcome was mostly successful when the treatment began before the induction of colitis. Indeed, Peran et al 6) have reported for rats that a pretreatment of Lactobacillus rutei and L. fermentum, starting 2 weeks before TNBS administration, significantly reduced colonic damage both histologically and biochemically.…”