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  4. Short-chain fatty acids ameliorate spinal cord injury recovery by regulating the balance of regulatory T cells and effector IL-17+ γδ T cells

Short-chain fatty acids ameliorate spinal cord injury recovery by regulating the balance of regulatory T cells and effector IL-17+ γδ T cells

Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B (Biomedicine & Biotechnology), 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B2200417 · Published: April 1, 2023

Spinal Cord InjuryImmunologyGastroenterology

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), produced by gut bacteria, affect recovery from spinal cord injury (SCI). SCFAs are administered orally to rats with SCI to observe their impact on motor function and tissue repair. The research focuses on the interplay between gut health, immune responses, and spinal cord repair. It explores whether SCFAs can modulate immune cells, particularly regulatory T cells (Tregs) and IL-17+ γδ T cells, to reduce inflammation and promote recovery after SCI. The findings suggest a 'gut-spinal cord-immune' axis where SCFAs influence immune cells in the gut, which then migrate to the spinal cord, impacting inflammation and motor function recovery. This highlights a potential therapeutic strategy for SCI by targeting the gut microbiome.

Study Duration
21 d
Participants
65 female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats
Evidence Level
Not specified

Key Findings

  • 1
    Oral administration of SCFAs improved locomotor function in SCI rats, as indicated by increased BBB scores, improved regularity index, and decreased base of support (BOS) value.
  • 2
    SCFAs reduced spinal cord tissue inflammatory infiltration and necrosis, while increasing the number of motor neurons and Nissl bodies, indicating a neuroprotective effect.
  • 3
    SCFAs promoted gut homeostasis and induced intestinal T cells to shift toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype, increasing the abundance of Treg cells in the small intestinal lamina propria.
  • 4
    Treg cells migrate from the gut to the spinal cord region after SCI.
  • 5
    SCFAs can regulate Treg cells in the gut and promote their secretion of IL-10, affecting the balance of Treg and IL-17+ γδ T cells in the spinal cord, which inhibits the inflammatory response and promotes the motor function in SCI rats.

Research Summary

This study explores the therapeutic potential of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in spinal cord injury (SCI) recovery by modulating the gut microbiome and immune response. Oral administration of SCFAs to SCI rats led to improved locomotor function and reduced inflammation in the spinal cord. The research demonstrates that SCFAs promote gut homeostasis, enhance the differentiation of anti-inflammatory T cells in the gut, and facilitate the migration of regulatory T cells (Tregs) from the gut to the injured spinal cord region. This migration helps to regulate the balance between Tregs and IL-17+ γδ T cells. The findings suggest a 'gut-spinal cord-immune' axis, where SCFAs influence immune cells in the gut, which in turn affect the inflammatory response and promote motor function recovery in SCI rats. This highlights a potential therapeutic strategy for SCI by targeting the gut microbiome.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Potential

SCFAs could be a potential therapeutic intervention for SCI patients by modulating the gut microbiome and reducing inflammation.

Gut-Immune-Spinal Cord Axis

The study highlights the importance of the gut-immune-spinal cord axis in SCI recovery, suggesting that interventions targeting the gut microbiome can influence spinal cord repair.

Immunomodulation

SCFAs can modulate the balance of regulatory T cells and IL-17+ γδ T cells, which are key players in the inflammatory response after SCI.

Study Limitations

  • 1
    The specific mechanisms of action between Treg and IL-17+ γδ T cells need further exploration.
  • 2
    Changes in the number of cells that migrated from the intestinal tract to the spinal cord after treatment with SCFAs could not be directly demonstrated.
  • 3
    The effects of single SCFAs on SCI rats must be further explored.

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