Chitosan lowers body weight through intestinal microbiota and reduces IL-17 expression via mTOR signalling. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xiao, Dingfu; Ren, Wenkai; Bin, Peng; Chen, Shuai; Yin, Jie; Gao, Wei; Liu, Gang; Nan, Zi; Hu, Xionggui; He, Jianhua
• Is Part Of: Journal of functional foods. Volume 22(2016)
• Page Start: 166
• Page End: 176
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: ETEC enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli -- FoxP3 forkhead box P3 -- IL-17 interleukin-17 -- mTOR mammalian target of rapamycin -- PCNA proliferating cell nuclear antigen -- RORγt RAR-related orphan receptor gamma t; Chitosan -- IL-17 -- Intestinal microbiota -- mTOR; Functional foods -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food -- Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2016.01.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-4646

Abstract

Highlights: Chitosan lowers mouse body weight. Chitosan reduces mouse body weight through the intestinal microbiota. Chitosan decreases expression of IL-17 in mouse jejunum. Chitosan inhibits intestinal IL-17 expression through the mTOR signalling. Abstract: This study was conducted to explore the effect of chitosan supplementation on mouse intestinal microbiota and interleukin-17 (IL-17) expression. Chitosan supplementation reduced mouse body weight, associating with change of intestinal microbiota (i.e. lowering the ratio of Firmicutes : Bacteroidetes ). In antibiotics treated mice, chitosan supplementation had little effect on mouse body weight. Chitosan supplementation decreased expression of IL-17 in mouse jejunum and inhibited the mTOR pathway. In antibiotics treated mice, chitosan also reduced expression of IL-17 in the jejunum. Activation of mTOR signalling in mouse increased expression of IL-17 in the jejunum in the context of chitosan supplementation. We conclude that chitosan supplementation reduces mouse body weight through the intestinal microbiota, and inhibits intestinal IL-17 expression through the mTOR signalling. The discovery of this study suggests the potentials of chitosan as a functional supplement in intestinal health.