Fructooligosaccharide alters microbiota, T‐lymphocyte subpopulations, and cytokines within gut‐associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of BALB/c mice

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the prebiotic, fructooligosaccharide (FOS), in maintaining intestinal health. Female (10 wk) BALB/c mice were fed 0% (control group), 4% or 8% FOS for 4 wk (n=9/diet) and GALT was examined. There were no additive effects between 4% and 8% FOS so data were pooled (FOS group). Intestinal microbiota composition was determined by 16S rRNA based profiling (DGGE). The cecal and fecal microbiota profiles differed between control and FOS. Mesenteric lymph node (MLN) lymphocytes were obtained, stimulated in culture with a T‐cell mitogen, PHA, and cytokine production was measured. Culture medium from FOS mice contained significantly more IL‐5 (37+6 vs 19+4 pg/ml). The percentage of MLN, Peyer's patch, and colon lamina propria and intraepithelial lymphocytes that were CD4+, CD8+, CD25+, and/or Foxp3+ was examined. The percentage of colon CD4+ intraepithelial lymphocytes was significantly lower in FOS (10.8+1.3%) vs control (17.6+2.8%). No other changes in GALT T‐cell subpopulations were noted. In conclusion, the addition of FOS to the diet changed intestinal microbiota, decreased the colonic intraepithelial CD4+ T‐cell population, and increased production of the T‐helper 2 cytokine, IL‐5, in a dose‐independent manner. Support: General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition.