The Communication Between Intestinal Microbiota and Ulcerative Colitis: An Exploration of Pathogenesis, Animal Models, and Potential Therapeutic Strategies.

Yu Hu,Yingqi She,Linzhen Li,Kaihua Qin,Zhipeng Hu,Zhen Ye,Maoyi Yang,Mingquan Wu,Fating Lu,Yujie Xu,Qiaobo Ye

doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.766126

Abstract

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The prolonged course of UC and the lack of effective treatment management make it difficult to cure, affecting the health and life safety of patients. Although UC has received more attention, the etiology and pathogenesis of UC are still unclear. Therefore, it is urgent to establish an updated and comprehensive understanding of UC and explore effective treatment strategies. Notably, sufficient evidence shows that the intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the pathogenesis of UC, and the treating method aimed at improving the balance of the intestinal microbiota exhibits a therapeutic potential for UC. This article reviews the relationship between the genetic, immunological and microbial risk factors with UC. At the same time, the UC animal models related to intestinal microbiota dysbiosis induced by chemical drugs were evaluated. Finally, the potential value of the therapeutic strategies for restoring intestinal microbial homeostasis and treating UC were also investigated. Comprehensively, this study may help to carry out preclinical research, treatment theory and methods, and health management strategy of UC, and provide some theoretical basis for TCM in the treatment of UC.

Highlights

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that involves the rectum and colonic mucosal layer, leading to superficial damage to the intestinal wall [1]
We found that some scholars have focused their researches on intestinal microbiota with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating UC
The occurrence of UC is associated with multiple risk factors such as heredity, immunity and microorganisms

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that involves the rectum and colonic mucosal layer, leading to superficial damage to the intestinal wall [1]. Defects in the mucus barrier occur early in the onset of UC, further leads to increased intestinal permeability and exposure to antigens, activating abnormal immune responses [22, 23] This suggests that it was necessary to consider other risk factors. The decrease in microbial diversity and abundance of beneficial symbiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus and Alistipes), and the increase of the abundance of pathogenic bacteria (Oscillibacter, Streptococcus, and Escherichia–Shigella) are similar to the changes of intestinal microbiota in UC patients [87, 95], which makes it has advantages in studying the effects of drugs on the intestine microbiota. In TNBS and OXA-induced inflammation models, the abundance of Sulfatereducing bacteria, which produce hydrogen sulfide that damages the colon, causes epithelial damage and inflammation, and TABLE 1 | The difference of three types of commonly used drugs in treating UC. Acting on the colonic epithelium, exerting local mucosal anti-inflammatory effects

Limitations

Experimental methods

Findings

CONCLUSION