Dietary purple potato supplement attenuates DSS-induced colitis in mice: impact on mitochondrial function.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition characterized by disrupted intestinal barrier function, abnormal immune response, and mucosal structure loss. This study evaluated the beneficial role of purple potato (PP) supplementation against IBD symptoms using a murine model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, and further explored the underlying mechanisms. Six-week-old C57BL/6J male mice were randomized into two groups and fed a standard rodent diet with or without 10% PP powder for 7 weeks. At the 5th week of dietary supplements, mice in each group were further divided into two subgroups and were either induced with or without 2.5% DSS induction for 7 days, followed by 7 days of recovery. Data showed that PP supplementation ameliorated the disease activity index in DSS-treated mice and reversed the colonic structure loss, mucosal damage, macrophage infiltration, and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion induced by DSS in the colonic tissue. PP supplementation also restored the levels of tight junction proteins and caudal type homeobox 2 in DSS-treated mice. Furthermore, dietary PP enhanced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α signaling pathway, mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial proteostasis, and protein-folding capacity. In summary, dietary PP ameliorated DSS-induced colitis and improved gut structures and barrier function, which was associated with improved mitochondrial function. These results support further investigation of PP as a potential dietary intervention for IBD.

Dietary Red Raspberry Reduces Colorectal Inflammation and Carcinogenic Risk in Mice with Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis causes recurring intestinal mucosal injury and sustained inflammation, increasing the likelihood of colorectal cancer (CRC) development. Dietary red raspberry (RB) is a rich source of phytonutrients known to have anti-inflammatory activity; however, the role of RB on CRC prevention in chronic colitis has not been examined. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of dietary RB supplementation on inflammation, epithelium repair, and oncogenic signaling in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced chronic colitis in mice. METHODS: Six-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed a control or RB (5% of dry feed weight; n = 12/group) diet for 10 wk. Starting from the fourth week, mice were administered 2 repeated cycles of 1% DSS (7-d DSS treatment plus 14-d recovery) and were monitored daily for disease activity index (DAI) score. Colonic tissues were collected at the end of the study for histochemical, immunohistochemical, and biochemical analysis of inflammation, differentiation and proliferation markers. RESULTS: RB supplementation reduced the DAI score and histologic damage (by 38.9%; P ≤ 0.01), expression of inflammatory mediators (by 20-70%; P ≤ 0.01), infiltration of CD4 T cells (by 50%; P ≤ 0.05), and α4ß7 integrin and related adhesion molecules (by 33.3%; P ≤ 0.01). Furthermore, RB supplementation facilitated epithelium repair, as evidenced by enhanced goblet cell density, expression of transcription factors including Kruppel-like factor 4 (Klf4) and Hairy and enhancer of split 1 (Hes1), terminal differentiation markers, mucin 2 (Muc2), and intestinal alkaline phosphatase (by 20-200%; P ≤ 0.01). Conversely, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (by 70%; P ≤ 0.01), ß-catenin, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling (by 19-33%; P ≤ 0.05) were reduced by RB supplementation. In addition, RB supplementation enhanced p53 stability (by 53%) and reduced oncogenic gene expression (by 50-60%). CONCLUSION: RB supplementation reduced DAI score and the risk of CRC development during recurring colitis in mice, suggesting that RB is a possible dietary supplement for patients with ulcerative colitis and related gut inflammatory diseases.

Dietary red raspberries attenuate dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis.

Persistent intestinal inflammation severely impairs intestinal integrity resulting in inflammatory bowel disease. Red raspberries (RB) are a rich source of bioactive compounds; their beneficial effect on the colitis protection was evaluated in the current study using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis mouse model. Six-week-old mice were fed a standard rodent research diet supplemented with RB (0 or 5% w/w, n=20 each group) for 6 weeks. At the 4th week of dietary treatment, approximately half of mice in each dietary group (n=12 each group) were subjected to 2.5% DSS induction for 6 days, followed by 6 days of recovery, to induce colitis. RB supplementation decreased body weight loss (P≤.01), disease activity index (P≤.01), and colon shortening (P≤.05) in DSS-treated mice. In addition, RB supplementation protected the colonic structure (P≤.01), associated with suppressed NF-κB signaling and reduced expression of inflammatory interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-17, cyclooxegenase-2, and tumor necrosis factor-α in DSS-treated mice. RB supplementation reduced neutrophil infiltration, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 mRNA expression, and xanthine oxidase content, but enhanced catalase content in DSS-treated mice. Consistently, RB supplementation reduced pore forming tight junction protein claudin-2, increased barrier strengthening claudin-3, zonula occluden-1 protein content and mucin (MUC)-2 mRNA level, and activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in DSS-treated mice. In conclusion, dietary RB protected against inflammation and colitis symptoms induced by DSS, providing a promising dietary approach for the management of colitis.

Dietary Green Pea Protects against DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice Challenged with High-Fat Diet.

Obesity is a risk factor for developing inflammatory bowel disease. Pea is unique with its high content of dietary fiber, polyphenolics, and glycoproteins, all of which are known to be health beneficial. We aimed to investigate the impact of green pea (GP) supplementation on the susceptibility of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Six-week-old C57BL/6J female mice were fed a 45% HFD or HFD supplemented with 10% GP. After 7-week dietary supplementation, colitis was induced by adding 2.5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days followed by a 7-day recovery period. GP supplementation ameliorated the disease activity index score in HFD-fed mice during the recovery stage, and reduced neutrophil infiltration, mRNA expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-6, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), IL-17, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in HFD-fed mice. Further, GP supplementation increased mucin 2 content and mRNA expression of goblet cell differentiation markers including Trefoil factor 3 (Tff3), Krüppel-like factor 4 (Klf4), and SAM pointed domain ETS factor 1 (Spdef1) in HFD-fed mice. In addition, GP ameliorated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as indicated by the reduced expression of Activating transcription factor-6 (ATF-6) protein and its target genes chaperone protein glucose-regulated protein 78 (Grp78), the CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), the ER degradation-enhancing α-mannosidase-like 1 protein (Edem1), and the X-box binding protein 1 (Xbp1) in HFD-fed mice. In conclusion, GP supplementation ameliorated the severity of DSS-induced colitis in HFD-fed mice, which was associated with the suppression of inflammation, mucin depletion, and ER stress in the colon.

Maternal high-fat diet consumption enhances offspring susceptibility to DSS-induced colitis in mice.

OBJECTIVE: Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) may alter the offspring intestinal immune system, thereby enhancing susceptibility toward inflammatory bowel disease. The objective of the current study was to investigate the impact of maternal HFD on offspring intestinal health using a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. METHODS: Dams were provided with either HFD (60%) or control diet. After weaning, female offspring from both groups were kept on 45% HFD. At 14 weeks of age, offspring were subjected to 2.5% DSS in drinking water for 5 days, followed by 5 days of recovery. RESULTS: Offspring from maternal HFD had higher body weight gain before DSS induction and had higher liver and fat weights with increased adipocyte size at necropsy. When subjected to DSS treatment, HFD offspring had accelerated body weight loss and exaggerated disease activity index. HFD offspring had an elevated histopathological score and interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and IL-17 expression with upregulated NF-κB signaling. Maternal HFD resulted in enhanced neutrophil infiltration associated with elevated expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Furthermore, maternal HFD suppressed AMP-activated protein kinase activity and decreased sirtuin 1 and p53 protein contents in offspring gut. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal HFD consumption predisposes offspring to a higher susceptibility to develop inflammatory bowel disease.

Regulation of the intestinal tight junction by natural polyphenols: A mechanistic perspective.

Impairment of the epithelial barrier function is closely linked to the pathogenesis of various gastrointestinal diseases, food allergies, type I diabetes, and other systematic diseases. Plant-derived polyphenols are natural secondary metabolites and exert various physiological benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-aging effects. Recent studies also show the role of plant polyphenols in regulation of the intestinal barrier and prevention of intestinal inflammatory diseases. Here we summarize the regulatory pathways and mediators linking polyphenols to their beneficial effects on tight junction and gut epithelial barrier functions, and provide useful information about using polyphenols as nutraceuticals for intestinal diseases.