Lachnospiraceae shift in the microbial community of mice faecal sample effects on water immersion restraint stress

Shiyin Li,Chenchen Yao,Sixin Cui,Zelin Wang,Gang Guo,Yun Yang,Hongwu Sun,Kaiyun Liu,Sha Yang,Quanming Zou

doi:10.1186/s13568-017-0383-4

Shiyin Li, Chenchen Yao + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0383-4

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Abstract

sStress, including both psychological and physical stimulation, can cause changes in the microbiota and mucosal function of the gastrointestinal system. There are few research studies available about the faecal microbiota changes after stress, such as water immersion restraint stress (WIRS). Therefore, in this study, we focused on analysing the composition changes of faecal microbiota in WIRS mice. The WIRS model, in which Blab/c mice were immersed in 21 ± 2 °C water for 4 h each day for 14 days, was established. Behavioural changes, the serum levels of corticosterone, IFN-γ and IL-17 and gastric mucosal injury were also assessed. Ten faecal microbiota samples were detected by Illumina Miseq sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes from 367205 characterised sequences. Finally, we find significant differences in the faecal microbiota composition between the control and the WIRS groups. There was an obvious increase in Lachnospiraceae in the WIRS mice (p = 0.0286, p < 0.05), which is associated with human diseases, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s and celiac disease. Our research indicates that stress changes in the faecal microbiota. These results suggest that observing shifts of the intestinal microbiota is a promising method to explore the mechanism of the stress associated with gastrointestinal diseases and to provide us with a better understanding of the relationship between the microbiota and disease.

Highlights

Microbiota is indispensable for human health, but the mechanism of how this system influences the host is still unclear (Bian et al 2013)
A long-term water immersion restraint stress (WIRS) model was successfully established as demonstrated by the series changes that were observed, including the behavioural, serum corticosterone, IFN-γ and IL-17 levels and gastric mucosal injury changes
The intestinal microbiota interacts extensively with the host through metabolic exchanges and the co-metabolism of substrates to maintain the normal function and health status of the intestinal tract and the whole body (Rooks et al 2014) Increasing research indicates that changes of the intestinal flora are closely associated with diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, colon cancer and other intestinal diseases

Summary

Introduction

Microbiota is indispensable for human health, but the mechanism of how this system influences the host is still unclear (Bian et al 2013). Studies show that stress causes gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (Ohta et al 2009). This disorder is related to changes of the intestinal flora composition. There are few reports about faecal microbiota changes due to stress. We want to study whether faecal microbiota changes are impacted by stress. We analysed the differences in the faecal microbiota composition between normal and WIRS groups. These faecal microbiota changes may help to explore the mechanism of stress associated with gastrointestinal diseases and provide better suggestions of the relationship between the microbiota and disease

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Results

Conclusion