Impact of gut microbiota dysbiosis on intestinal barrier integrity and systemic inflammation in a pre-eclampsia mouse model

Pre-eclampsia is characterized by systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, with growing evidence suggesting a significant role for gut microbiota in its pathogenesis. This study investigated the effects of fecal microbiota transplantation from pre-eclamptic and healthy donors on intestinal barrier integrity and systemic inflammation in a mouse model. Fecal bacteria solutions from pre-eclamptic and healthy pregnant women were transplanted into pseudo-sterile mice. The expression of ZO-1 and Occludin in colon tissue was assessed using PCR, Western Blot, and immunohistochemistry. Urinary protein content, serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS), TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were measured by ELISA. Fecal microbiota transplantation from pre-eclamptic and healthy donors did not affect tissue morphology in mice but significantly compromised intestinal barrier integrity in the pre-eclampsia model group (PET). This was indicated by reduced levels of the tight junction proteins TJP1 and Occludin. The PET group also exhibited elevated urinary protein levels (4456.24 ± 1509.05 μg/ml) and increased serum levels of LPS (10.26 ± 3.91 μg/ml), TNF-α (13.34 ± 1.07 pg/ml), and IL-6 (16.48 ± 5.33 pg/ml), underscoring systemic inflammation associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis in pre-eclampsia. This study indicates that the dysregulation of the intestinal microbiota in patients with preeclampsia may disrupt the intestinal barrier function and exacerbate systemic inflammation. However, due to the limited number of donors and experimental conditions, the specific mechanism still requires further investigation.