• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.175-183
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• 2002

To compare the effects of various types of dietary fiber on microbial production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and on colon cell proliferation which is used as an intermediate biomarker for colon carcinogenesis, groups of 10 male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed one of four fiber-supplemented diets (6% cellulose, 6% pectin, 6% polydextrose, and a mixture of 3% cellulose and 3% polydextrose) for three weeks. As a control, a fiber-free diet was fed to a separate group of 10 rats. Cell proliferation was measured by in vivo incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine into DNA in the proximal and distal colon, respectively. Luminal concentrations of SCFA were measured by gas chromatography. Dietary fiber significantly influenced microbial production of SCFA in the colon; pectin supplementation produced the highest concentrations of luminal SCFA in both the proximal and distal colon (p<0.05). The degree of individual SCFA production was characterized by a relatively higher increase in butyrate production by the pectin-supplemented diet, and in propionate production by the polydextrose-supplemented diet, resulting in alterations of the molar ratios of acetate, propionate and butyrate. There were significant differences in colon cell proliferation among the diet groups; the pectin-supplemented diet produced a significantly higher effect on cell proliferation of distal colonic epithelial cells (p＜0.05), and the polydextrose-supplemented diet produced an intermediate effect compared to the fiber-free or cellulose-supplemented diet. Increased cell proliferation was correlated to increased luminal concentrations of butyrate in the proximal colon and to increased luminal concentrations of propionate and butyrate in the distal colon (p<0.05). Therefore, these data suggest that dietary fiber may modulate colon cell proliferation by altering luminal SCFA concentrations, particularly butyrate and perhaps propionate. In addition, the present study is the first finding that has demonstrated a relative increase in colon cell proliferation due to supplementation with polydextrose, suggesting that the overuse of this artificially synthesized polysaccharide in food processing technology needs to be carefully evaluated from the public health point of view.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1800-1805
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• 2018

Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronically relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) constitute barrier surfaces and play a critical role in maintaining gut health. Dysregulated immune responses and destruction of IECs disrupt intestinal balance. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) is the most widely used chemical for inducing colitis in animals, and its treatment induces colonic inflammation, acute diarrhea, and shortening of the intestine, with clinical and histological similarity to human UC. Current treatments for this inflammatory disorder have poor tolerability and insufficient therapeutic efficacy, and thus, alternative therapeutic approaches are required. Recently, dietary supplements with probiotics have emerged as promising interventions by alleviating disturbances in the indigenous microflora in UC. Thus, we hypothesized that the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain BB12 could protect against the development of colitis in a DSS-induced mouse model of UC. In the present study, oral administration of BB12 markedly ameliorated DSS-induced colitis, accompanied by reduced tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$-mediated IEC apoptosis. These findings indicate that the probiotic strain BB12 can alleviate DSS-induced colitis and suggest a novel mechanism of communication between probiotic microorganisms and intestinal epithelia, which increases intestinal cell survival by modulating pro-apoptotic cytokine expression.

• Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.656-668
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• 2018

Background/Aims MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were reported to be responsible for intestinal permeability in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) rats in our previous study. However, whether and how miRNAs regulate visceral hypersensitivity in IBS-D remains largely unknown. Methods We established the IBS-D rat model and evaluated it using the nociceptive visceral hypersensitivity test, myeloperoxidase activity assay, restraint stress-induced defecation, and electromyographic (EMG) activity. The distal colon was subjected to miRNA microarray analysis followed by isolation and culture of colonic epithelial cells (CECs). Bioinformatic analysis and further experiments, including dual luciferase assays, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, were used to detect the expression of miRNAs and how it regulates visceral hypersensitivity in IBS-D rats. Results The IBS-D rat model was successfully established. A total of 24 miRNAs were differentially expressed in the distal colon of IBS-D rats; 9 were upregulated and 15 were downregulated. Among them, the most significant upregulation was miR-200a, accompanied by downregulation of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) and serotonin transporter (SERT). MiR-200a mimic markedly inhibited the expression of CNR1/SERT. Bioinformatic analysis and luciferase assay confirmed that CNR1/SERT are direct targets of miR-200a. Rescue experiments that overexpressed CNR1/SERT significantly abolished the inhibitory effect of miR-200a on the IBS-D rats CECs. Conclusions This study suggests that miR-200a could induce visceral hyperalgesia by targeting the downregulation of CNR1 and SERT, aggravating or leading to the development and progression of IBS-D. MiR-200a may be a regulator of visceral hypersensitivity, which provides potential targets for the treatment of IBS-D.