Diet-microbiome interactions promote enteric nervous system resilience following spinal cord injury

bioRxiv, 2024 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.06.06.597793 · Published: June 8, 2024

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to gut problems, including a decline in the enteric nervous system (ENS). This study shows that a dietary fiber, inulin, can help prevent ENS damage and gut issues in mice after SCI. The study found that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), produced by gut microbes, are important for protecting the ENS. Inulin's benefits depend on a signaling molecule called IL-10, showing a connection between diet, gut bacteria, and the immune system. The research indicates that diet and microbial signals play distinct roles in ENS recovery after SCI. This understanding could lead to new ways to treat gut problems caused by spinal injuries.

Study Duration

14 days

Participants

Mice

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Inulin supplementation improves gut transit and prevents ENS atrophy in a murine model of SCI.
2
Microbially-derived SCFA metabolite, butyrate, limits SCI-induced enteric pathology.
3
Inulin-mediated resilience depends on signaling by the cytokine IL-10.

Research Summary

This study establishes that SCI-triggered enteric pathologies are able to be modified by the intrinsic intestinal environment. The composition of the microbiome is therefore not solely responsible for chronic enteric pathologies following SCI. Diet-induced SCFAs regulate resilience of enteric nitrergic neurons by broadly creating an anti-inflammatory/neuroprotective intestinal environment, rich in IL-10.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Target

Diet-microbe interactions are potential therapeutic targets to prevent and restore bowel function in those with traumatic spinal cord injury.

Clinical Relevance

These data provide pre-clinical justification for the continued investigation of diet-microbe interactions as therapeutic targets.

Further Research

The study suggests that inulin and TRB increase local and systemic IL-10 and therefore may prevent not only the onset of enteric pathologies, but also improve systemic outcomes.

Study Limitations

1
Study relied on male animals, further studies are needed to compare male and female responses
2
Injury-associated microbes may require an intestinal environment shaped by SCI to impart an effect on the host.
3
Under-developed ENS of germ-free mice lacks the ability to respond to the microbes introduced.

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