Tea residue protein-derived oligopeptides attenuate DSS-induced acute colitis complicated with hepatic injury in C57BL/6J mice by regulating the gut-microbiome-liver axis

Abstract

Background

Impairment of the intestinal mucosal barrier is a prevalent feature of acute colitis, and untreated acute colitis can lead to extra-intestinal manifestations, including hepatic injury. Previous research has demonstrated that large-leaf yellow tea residue protein-derived oligopeptides (TPP) can alleviate ulcerative colitis symptoms and hepatic injury in mice. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms by which TPP improves colitis complicated with liver injury are unknown.

Purpose

To explore the potential mechanism by which TPP alleviates acute colitis complicated with hepatic injury.

Methods

Acute colitis with hepatic injury was induced in mice using 3.5 % dextran sodium sulfate. Both 16S rRNA sequencing and transcriptomic analyses were utilized to investigate the impact of TPP on mitigating symptoms in mice.

Results

It indicated that TPP administration effectively reduced inflammatory symptoms in the colon and liver, enhanced the secretion of mucin occluding, claudin-1, ZO-1, and MUC-2, decreased intestinal mucosal permeability, and restored homeostasis within the gut microbiome of mice. Moreover, transcriptomic analysis has evidenced the effectiveness of TPP in mitigating liver-related effects. RNA-seq KEGG enrichment and RT-qPCR analyses validated TPP could modulate the “gut-microbiome-liver” axis, and participate in signaling pathways related to inflammatory regulation, as well as bile acid metabolism and synthesis.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that TPP administration is a promising novel approach for preventing and treating acute colitis complicated with hepatic injury.