Inulin alleviates offspring asthma by altering maternal intestinal microbiome composition to increase short-chain fatty acids

Abstract

Technically, symptom of offspring asthma is also closely reliant on its maternal high-fiber diet as well as the intestinal microbiome. Fruits and vegetables are abundant in inulin, and this naturally soluble dietary fiber is endowed with a potential value on offspring asthma control through the maternal intake, but the mechanism now remains less studied. In this study, rats were given with inulin-included drinking water, whereas in normal group rats were allowed with normal water. Afterwards, we analyzed both the formations of the offspring intestinal microbiome ahead of asthma model establishment and of the maternal intestinal microbiome through high throughput sequence and the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by metabolomic analysis. Subsequently, lung inflammation indexes were detected by Elisa, and the expression of short-chain fatty acid receptors (GPR41, GPR43) in the offspring of asthma models were evaluated through qPCR assay. Inulin intake resulted in altered maternal intestinal microbiome composition, with a significant increase in SCFAs-producing bacteria (mainly Bifidobacterium), attenuating the asthmatic inflammatory response in the offspring. Meanwhile, inulin intake during pregnancy modulates the composition of the intestinal microbiome of the offspring, and this alteration appears before the onset of asthma, hence, there should be further studies onto the impacts of offspring’s intestinal microbiome on asthma procession.

Maternal gut microbiota in the health of mothers and offspring: from the perspective of immunology

“…The association between maternal gut microbiota and allergic diseases in offspring may also depend on the maternal-fetal transfer of SCFAs, which often changes the composition of the gut microbiota of the offspring at the same time ( 12 , 194 , 195 ). SCFAs are known to have anti-inflammatory properties, and butyrate is able to protect against asthma by inducing FoxP3 on Tregs, suppressing inflammatory Th9 cells and inhibiting IL-13 and IL-5 production by ILC2s ( 207 – 209 ).…”

Food for thought: Making the case for food produced via regenerative agriculture in the battle against non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs)

“…For example, IL-4 drives B-2 cells to produce IgE, which fuels allergic reactions . Bifidobacteria , some Clostridia species, and Lactobacillus species can modulate the immune response by producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, that alter signal transduction to favor tolerance [ 37 ]. Specifically, butyrate acts as a histone deacetylase inhibitor, promoting a more permissive chromatin structure for genes associated with Treg differentiation, such as FOXP3, CD25, CTLA-4, and IL-10.…”

Plant-Based Dietary Fibers and Polysaccharides as Modulators of Gut Microbiota in Intestinal and Lung Inflammation: Current State and Challenges

“…However, a recent study by Yuan et al [42] demonstrated that supplementation with inulin, a soluble dietary fiber, significantly altered the composition of maternal gut microbiota by increasing SCFA-producing Bifidobacterium. This supplementation also attenuated the asthmatic inflammatory response in the offspring.…”