Shih-Chang Chang ¹, Hui-Hsun Chiang ², Chih-Yi Liu ^3 4, Yu-Ju Li ⁵, Chung-Lun Lu ⁶, Yung-Pin Lee ⁷, Chi-Jung Huang ^8 9, Ching-Long Lai ^10 11

Affiliations

1. Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei 106438, Taiwan.
2. School of Nursing, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan.
3. Division of Pathology, Sijhih Cathay General Hospital, New Taipei City 221037, Taiwan.
4. School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242062, Taiwan.
5. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan.
6. Aquatic Technology Research Center, Agricultural Technology Research Institute, Xiangshan, sinchu 300110, Taiwan.
7. Research and Development, Healthy-Bioceuticals Company, Taipei 114201, Taiwan.
8. Department of Medical Research, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei 106438, Taiwan.
9. Department of Biochemistry, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan.
10. Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333324, Taiwan.
11. Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333324, Taiwan.

ABSTRACT

Use of prebiotics is a growing topic in healthcare. A lightweight molecule and water-soluble fiber ingredient, longish glucomannan hydrolysates (LGH), has been developed to improve the intestinal mucosal barrier and confer gut health benefits. This study aims to investigate the implications of continuous LGH intervening in intestinal epithelium integrity and protective immunity against chemical dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Twelve male BALB/c mice were randomly arranged into four groups. The LGH/DSS group had results in bodyweight variance, epithelial cell density, and aberrancy score as good as the LGH group, and both were equivalent to the control group. LGH consumption effectively protects the distal intestinal epithelium by activating innate T lymphocytes. Meanwhile, T-cell subsets in subepithelial interspersion take a bystander role in these microenvironmental alterations. Under this stress, the cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3)⁺ T cells infiltrate the epithelium, while CD4⁺ T cells inversely appear in submucosal large lymphoid aggregates/isolated lymphoid follicles (ILFs) in which significant CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ T-cell populations agglomerate. Moreover, forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and interleukin 17 (IL-17) are observed in these ILFs. Agglomerated CD4⁺ T-cell lineages may have roles with proinflammatory T helper 17 cells and anti-inflammatory regulatory T cells in balancing responses to intraluminal antigens. Collectively, LGH administration may function in immune modulation to protect against DSS-induced inflammation.

Keywords: T-cell activation; colitis; glucomannan; lymphoid aggregates; prebiotics.

>Nutrients. 2022 May 26;14(11):2220. doi: 10.3390/nu14112220.