Abstract

The effect of fish oil (FO) on colonic function, immunity, and microbiota was investigated in Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp)-infected C57BL/6J mice. Mice intragastrically presupplemented with FO (4.0 mg) significantly reduced Vp infection as evidenced by stabilizing body weight and reducing disease activity index score and immune organ ratios. FO minimized colonic pathological damage, strengthened the mucosal barrier, and sustained epithelial permeability by increasing epithelial crypt depth, goblet cell numbers, and tight junctions and inhibiting colonic collagen accumulation and fibrosis protein expression. Mechanistically, FO enhanced immunity by decreasing colonic CD3+ T cells, increasing CD4+ T cells, downregulating the TLR4 pathway, reducing interleukin-17 (IL-17) and tumor necrosis factor-α, and increasing immune cytokine IL-4 and interferon-γ levels. Additionally, FO maintained colonic microbiota eubiosis by improving microbial diversity and boosting Clostridium, Akkermansia, and Roseburia growth and their derived propionic acid and butyric acid levels. Collectively, FO alleviated Vp infection by enriching beneficial colonic microbiota and metabolites and restoring immune homeostasis.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call