Fructooligosaccharides supplementation mitigated chronic stress-induced intestinal barrier impairment and neuroinflammation in mice

Abstract

Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that gut microbiota is involved in modulating brain function and behavior through the gut-brain axis. Manipulation of gut microbiota by functional foods, such as prebiotics and probiotics, might improve mental health in stress-related psychiatric disorders. In present study, we found that supplementation of fructooligosaccharides could improve the depression-like behaviors and had a significant effect on the composition of gut flora in chronic stress mice. FOS treatment exhibited no effects on the elevated level of serum corticosterone in chronic stress mice, but significantly reversed the alterations of colonic tight junction proteins (Claudin1, Occludin, ZO-1) and reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) in colon and brain. Thus, FOS might exert an anti-depressant effect via the prevention of intestinal barrier impairment and neuroinflammation induced by chronic stress.

Keywords

• Chronic stress
• Depression
• Gut microbiota
• Prebiotic
• Fructooligosaccharides
• Neuroinflammation