Background: The community of gut microbes is a key factor controlling the intestinal barrier that communicates with the nervous system through the gut-brain axis. Based on our clinical data showing that populations of Roseburia intestinalis are dramatically decreased in the gut of patients with ulcerative colitis, we studied the efficacy of a strain belonging to this species in the context of colitis and stress using animal models. Methods: Dextran sulfate sodium was used to induce colitis in rats, which then underwent an enema with R. intestinalis as a treatment. The disease activity index, fecal changes and body weight of rats were recorded to evaluate colitis, while histological and immunohistochemical analyses were carried out to examine colon function, and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to evaluate the gut microbiota change. Behavioral assays and immunohistochemical staining of brain were performed to assess the effect of R. intestinalis on the gut-brain axis. Results: Colitis-related symptoms in rats were significantly relieved after R. intestinalis enema, and the stool traits and colon length of rats were significantly recovered after treatment. The gut epithelial integrity and intestinal barrier were restored in treated rats, as evidenced by the higher expression of Zo-1 in colon tissues, accompanied by the restoration of gut microbiota. Meanwhile, depressive-like behaviors of rats were reduced after treatment, and laboratory experiments on neuronal cells also showed that IL-6, IL-7 and 5-HT were downregulated by R. intestinalis treatment in both serum and brain tissue, while Iba-1 expression was reduced in treated rats. Conclusions: The administration of R. intestinalis contributes to restoration of the gut microbiota, promoting colon repair and the recovery of gastrointestinal function. These alterations are accompanied by the relief of depressive-like behaviors through a process modulated by the neuronal network and the regulation of inflammation by the gut-brain axis.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is marked by severe colonic inflammation and oxidative stress-induced tissue damage, often accompanied by gut microbiota dysbiosis. Probiotics have recently been recognized as promising therapeutic agents for IBD. Herein, we examined the modulatory effects of orally administered metal–organic framework (MOF) nanozyme MOF-818 on gut microbiota in a mouse model of IBD. Oral treatment with MOF-818 significantly alleviated IBD symptoms, reduced intestinal oxidative damage, and favorably altered the gut microbiota composition. Notably, MOF-818 selectively enhanced the proliferation of Roseburia intestinalis (R. intestinalis). Further analyses showed that MOF-818 significantly upregulated bacterial division-related genes (ftsZ, ftsE) in R. intestinalis while genes associated with ATP synthesis (atpA, atpD) were also highly expressed, boosting energy production to support rapid cell division and proliferation. These findings underscore the biofunctional role of MOF-818 as an active modulator of the gut microflora rather than a passive therapeutic agent, which highlights its significant synergistic potential with probiotics and lays a theoretical foundation for the future application of MOF-based materials in combination with probiotics.
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）