Fermentation of Chicory Fructo‐Oligosaccharides and Native Inulin by Infant Fecal Microbiota Attenuates Pro‐Inflammatory Responses in Immature Dendritic Cells in an Infant‐Age‐Dependent and Fructan‐Specific Way

Abstract

Scope Inulin‐type fructans are commonly applied in infant formula to support development of gut microbiota and immunity. These inulin‐type fructans are considered to be fermented by gut microbiota, but it is unknown how fermentation impacts immune modulating capacity and whether the process of fermentation is dependent on the infant's age. Methods and results The in vitro fermentation of chicory fructo‐oligosaccharides (FOS) and native inulin are investigated using pooled fecal inocula of two‐ and eight‐week‐old infants. Both inocula primarily utilize the trisaccharides in FOS, while they almost completely utilize native inulin with degree of polymerization (DP) 3–8. Fecal microbiota of eight‐week‐old infants degrades longer chains of native inulin up to DP 16. This correlates with a higher abundance of Bifidobacterium and higher production of acetate and lactate after 26 h of fermentation. Fermented FOS and native inulin attenuate pro‐inflammatory cytokines produced by immature dendritic cells (DCs), but profiles and magnitude of attenuation are stronger with native inulin than with FOS. Conclusion The findings demonstrate that fermentation of FOS and native inulin is dependent on the infant's age and fructan structure. Fermentation enhances attenuating effects of pro‐inflammatory responses in DCs, which depend mainly on microbial metabolites formed during fermentation.

Impact of Xylanase and Glucanase on Oligosaccharide Formation, Carbohydrate Fermentation Patterns, and Nutrient Utilization in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Broilers

“…The SCFA content of ileal and cecal digesta was determined by gas chromatography (GC-FID), as described by Logtenberg et al (2020) [ 39 ]. An aqueous solution of acetic, butyric, propionic, isobutyric, and isovaleric acids (Sigma-Aldrich) was prepared for quantification.…”

Mechanisms linking the human gut microbiome to prophylactic and treatment strategies for COVID-19

“…Fibres have been shown to possess immunomodulatory properties (80) ; in the case of infant gut microbiota, the prebiotic inulin has been observed, in vitro, to attenuate pro-inflammatory responses (81) , whilst Vogt et al (82) found that inulin supplementation along with hepatitis B vaccination led to higher in vitro antibody titres compared with control intervention. Research by Trompette et al (83) showed that high fibre levels in the diet of mice influenced the gut microbiota and SCFA levels.…”

Chicory inulin enhances fermentation of 2′-fucosyllactose by infant fecal microbiota and differentially influences immature dendritic cell and T-cell cytokine responses under normal and Th2-polarizing conditions

“…The degradation of native inulin and 2'-FL by infant fecal microbiota was monitored by high performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC) using a CarboPac PA-1 column (250 mm x 2 mm ID) (Dionex, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) and a CarboPac PA guard Please do not adjust margins Please do not adjust margins column (25 mm x 2 mm ID) (Dionex) as described elsewhere with minor modification of the eluent profile. 6 Mobile phase A (0.1 M sodium hydroxide) and B (1 M sodium acetate in 0.1 m sodium hydroxide) were eluted as follows: 0-40 min, 0-40% B; 40-45 min, 40-100% B; 45-50 min, washing step with 100% B; 50-51 min, 100-0% B; 51-66 min, equilibration with 100% A.…”

“…The application of new combinations of NDCs and HMOs can be of interest to tailor infant formulas for specific groups of infants as it was shown that NDCs and HMOs all have their own unique structureand infant-age-dependent immune effects. [6][7][8] Inulin-type fructans can be found in many natural sources including beet roots, leeks and banana, but is mainly extracted from chicory roots. They are composed of linear chains of (2-1)-linked fructose monomers and either have a glucose or a fructose moiety at the reducing end, 3 with chains with a varying degree of polymerization (DP).…”

“…11,12 In a previous study, we showed that the capacity of the infant's microbiota to ferment native inulin is agedependent and that the fermentation of native inulin could attenuate pro-inflammatory responses in DCs. 6 Next to native inulin, the HMO 2'-FL is now added to infant formulas. 5 Since a few years it is possible to produce 2'-FL as a fermentation product of genetically engineered microorganisms such as E. coli and yeast, 13,14 which makes it possible to produce it in a cost-effective way which allows broad application in infant Please do not adjust margins Please do not adjust margins formulas.…”