Akkermansia muciniphila and its membrane protein ameliorates intestinal inflammatory stress and promotes epithelial wound healing via CREBH and miR-143/145

Role of the gut microbiota in tumorigenesis and treatment

The gut microbiota is a crucial component of the intricate microecosystem within the human body that engages in interactions with the host and influences various physiological processes and pathological conditions. In recent years, the association between dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and tumorigenesis has garnered increasing attention, as it is recognized as a hallmark of cancer within the scientific community. However, only a few microorganisms have been identified as potential drivers of tumorigenesis, and enhancing the molecular understanding of this process has substantial scientific importance and clinical relevance for cancer treatment. In this review, we delineate the impact of the gut microbiota on tumorigenesis and treatment in multiple types of cancer while also analyzing the associated molecular mechanisms. Moreover, we discuss the utility of gut microbiota data in cancer diagnosis and patient stratification. We further outline current research on harnessing microorganisms for cancer treatment while also analyzing the prospects and challenges associated with this approach.

Gut Microbiota Modulation and Its Implications on Neuropathic Pain: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a chronic pain disorder arising from somatosensory nervous system impairment. Extensive evidence supports the notion that the gut microbiota (GM) is crucial in maintaining human health by performing vital tasks. At the same time, its disruption has been linked to the emergence and advancement of an expanding range of disorders, including NP, in which GM could play a role in its pathophysiology. The crosstalk between the nervous system and GM happens through immune mediators, metabolites, and nervous structures and involves both central and peripheral nervous systems. This literature review aims to thoroughly investigate the function of modulating GM in the treatment of NP. It will achieve this by integrating existing knowledge, identifying underlying mechanisms, and evaluating the possible clinical consequences of exploiting the gut-brain axis. We will cover the main therapeutic applications of the described GM-modulators, such as probiotics, faecal microbiota transplantation, dietary supplements and emotional support, to the main kinds of NP in which any evidence, even if only pre-clinical, has been unravelled in recent years. The explored NP areas include chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, trauma-induced neuropathic pain, trigeminal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia and low back pain.

Effect of Extracelluar Vesicles Derived from Akkermansia muciniphila on Intestinal Barrier in Colitis Mice

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and recurrent disease. It has been observed that the incidence and prevalence of IBD are increasing, which consequently raises the risk of developing colon cancer. Recently, the regulation of the intestinal barrier by probiotics has become an effective treatment for colitis. Akkermansia muciniphila-derived extracellular vesicles (Akk EVs) are nano-vesicles that contain multiple bioactive macromolecules with the potential to modulate the intestinal barrier. In this study, we used ultrafiltration in conjunction with high-speed centrifugation to extract Akk EVs. A lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cell model was established to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of Akk EVs. It was found that Akk EVs were able to be absorbed by RAW264.7 cells and significantly reduce the expression of nitric oxide (NO), TNF-α, and IL-1β (p < 0.05). We explored the preventative effects on colitis and the regulating effects on the intestinal barrier using a mouse colitis model caused by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The findings demonstrated that Akk EVs effectively prevented colitis symptoms and reduced colonic tissue injury. Additionally, Akk EVs significantly enhanced the effectiveness of the intestinal barrier by elevating the expression of MUC2 (0.53 ± 0.07), improving mucus integrity, and reducing intestinal permeability (p < 0.05). Moreover, Akk EVs increased the proportion of the beneficial bacteria Firmicutes (33.01 ± 0.09%) and downregulated the proportion of the harmful bacteria Proteobacteria (0.32 ± 0.27%). These findings suggest that Akk EVs possess the ability to regulate immune responses, protect intestinal barriers, and modulate the gut microbiota. The research presents a potential intervention approach for Akk EVs to prevent colitis.

Toll-like Receptors and Cytokine Modulation by Goat Milk Extracellular Vesicles in a Model of Intestinal Inflammation

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanometric spherical structures, enclosed in a lipid bilayer membrane and secreted by multiple cell types under specific physiologic and pathologic conditions. Their complex cargo modulates immune cells within an inflammatory microenvironment. Milk is one of the most promising sources of EVs in terms of massive recovery, and milk extracellular vesicles (mEVs) have immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to characterize goat mEVs' immunomodulating activities on Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and related immune genes, including cytokines, using a porcine intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2) after the establishment of a pro-inflammatory environment. IPEC-J2 was exposed for 2 h to pro-inflammatory stimuli as a model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), namely LPS for Crohn's disease (CD) and H₂O₂ for ulcerative colitis (UC); then, cells were treated with goat mEVs for 48 h. RT-qPCR and ELISA data showed that cell exposure to LPS or H₂O₂ caused a pro-inflammatory response, with increased gene expression of CXCL8, TNFA, NOS2 and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In the LPS model, the treatment with mEVs after LPS determined the down-regulation of NOS2, MMP9, TLR5, TGFB1, IFNB, IL18 and IL12A gene expressions, as well as lower release of IL-18 in culture supernatants. At the same time, we observed the increased expression of TLR1, TLR2, TLR8 and EBI3. On the contrary, the treatment with mEVs after H₂O₂ exposure, the model of UC, determined the increased expression of MMP9 alongside the decrease in TGFB1, TLR8 and DEFB1, with a lower release of IL-1Ra in culture supernatants. Overall, our data showed that a 48 h treatment with mEVs after a pro-inflammatory stimulus significantly modulated the expression of several TLRs and cytokines in swine intestinal cells, in association with a decreased inflammation. These results further highlight the immunomodulatory potential of these nanosized structures and suggest their potential application in vivo.

Manipulating Microbiota in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment: Clinical and Natural Product Interventions Explored

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease, that includes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), having progressively increasing global incidence. Disturbed intestinal flora has been highlighted as an important feature of IBD and offers promising strategies for IBD remedies. A brief overview of the variations occurring in intestinal flora during IBD is presented, and the role of the gut microbiota in intestinal barrier maintenance, immune and metabolic regulation, and the absorption and supply of nutrients is reviewed. More importantly, we review drug research on gut microbiota in the past ten years, including research on clinical and natural drugs, as well as adjuvant therapies, such as Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and probiotic supplements. We also summarize the interventions and mechanisms of these drugs on gut microbiota.