No abstract

Fuzi is a traditional Chinese medicine, and polysaccharides therein are considered the most bioactive compounds, with immunomodulatory effects. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects have not been evaluated. This study assessed the effects of Fuzi polysaccharides (FPS) on the gut microbiota and immune function of mice immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide (CP). The results showed that PFS increased the concentration of acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, and n-butyric acid in the cecum of treated mice. FPS decreased the relative abundance of Helicobacter, Anaerotruncus, Faecalibacterium, Lachnospira, Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG-003, Mucispirillum, and Mycoplasma and increased the relative abundance of Rhodospirillales, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-013, Mollicutes_RF39, Ruminococcus_1, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, and Muribaculaceae in the gut. Furthermore, FPS increased the spleen and thymus indexes and the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes. CP decreased the relative mRNA expression of NF-кB, IL-6, and iNOS, the differentiation of CD4+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells, and the protein expression of occludin and zonula occludens-1, whereas FPS reduced these effects. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the gut microbial composition was significantly correlated with inflammatory gene expression and intestinal barrier function.

Fuzi is a traditional Chinese medicine, and polysaccharides therein are considered the most bioactive compounds and exhibit immunomodulatory effects. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects have not been evaluated. Immunosuppression was induced in mice using cyclophosphamide (CP), and the effects of Fuzi polysaccharides (FPS) on the gut microbiota and immune function were investigated. The results showed that PFS increasedthe concentration of acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, and n-butyric acid in the cecum. FPS decreased the relative abundance of Helicobacter, Anaerotruncus, Faecalibacterium, Lachnospira, Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG-003, Mucispirillum, and Mycoplasma and increased the relative abundance of Rhodospirillales, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-013, Mollicutes_RF39, Ruminococcus_1, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, and Muribaculaceae in the gut microbiota. FPS increased the spleen and thymus indexes and the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes. CP decreased the relative mRNA expression of NF-кB, IL-6, and iNOS, the differentiation of CD4+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells, and the protein expression of occludin and zonula occludens-1, whereas FPS reduced these effects. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the gut microbial compositionwas significantly correlated with inflammatory gene expression and intestinal barrier function.