Camel milk modulates the gut microbiota and has anti-inflammatory effects in a mouse model of colitis

Jing He,Kunjie Guo,Qi Chen,Yulin Wang,Jirimutu Jirimutu

doi:10.3168/jds.2021-21345

Jing He, Kunjie Guo + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21345

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Abstract

Camel milk is a nutritionally rich food that shows anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, and gut microbiota maintenance properties. However, the relationship between camel milk and the intestinal microbiota during colitis is unclear. Herein, we evaluated the protective effect of camel milk in mice with colitis induced using dextran sodium sulfate. Our results showed that camel milk can prevent body weight loss and colon shortening, reduce the disease activity index, and attenuate colon tissue damage. Additionally, camel milk could reduce the overexpression of inflammatory factors, inhibit the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, and promote the expression of claudin-1, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 proteins. Moreover, camel milk effectively regulated intestinal microbiota in mice with colitis by increasing the gut microbiota diversity, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria (such as g_norank_f_Muribaculaceae, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group), and reducing the number of harmful bacteria (Bacteroides, Escherichia-Shigella). In addition, camel milk increased the levels of intestinal short-chain fatty acids. The results of the present study demonstrated that via regulating the intestinal microbiota, maintaining intestinal barrier function, and inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines, camel milk can ameliorate dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis.

Highlights

IntroductionRecent studies have shown that patients with colitis are often associated with increased intestinal permeability, which is closely related to inflammation (Bennebroek Evertsz’ et al, 2012)
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, comprises a chronic gastrointestinal tract inflammatory disease, which usually causes weight loss, abdominal pain, intes-Recent studies have shown that patients with colitis are often associated with increased intestinal permeability, which is closely related to inflammation (Bennebroek Evertsz’ et al, 2012)
Our results showed that the production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the colon was significantly inhibited in mice with colitis administered with camel milk (CM) (P < 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

Recent studies have shown that patients with colitis are often associated with increased intestinal permeability, which is closely related to inflammation (Bennebroek Evertsz’ et al, 2012). An imbalance of the gut microbiota leads to epithelial cell damage and induces intestinal inflammation (Dinan and Cryan, 2017). The metabolites of gut microbes, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), effectively inhibit proinflammatory factor production by inhibiting the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, thereby decreasing the occurrence of inflammatory reactions (Lavelle and Sokol, 2020). SCFA can reduce intestinal permeability and prevent colitis (Suzuki et al, 2008). Camel milk has a unique composition that differs from the milk of other ruminants. It contains higher levels of immunoglobulin, lactoferrin, and calcium, and lower levels of fat.

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