Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids improve airway pathological features and gut microbial imbalances in BALB/c mice with ovalbumin-induced asthma

Abstract

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) and the gut microbiota individually exert notable effects on asthma. However, it remains unknown whether LCPUFAs modulate the gut microbial composition. Twenty-four male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to control (saline), asthma (ovalbumin (OVA)), and LCPUFAs groups (OVA plus LCPUFAs). The enhanced pause value was observed to decrease upon the administration of LCPUFAs in mice challenged with methacholine (12.5, 25, and 50 g/mL). LCPUFAs treatment decreased the number of eosinophils in BALF compared to that in non-treated asthmatic mice. The interleukin 5 levels in BALF and the airway PAS scores decreased after the asthmatic mice were treated with LCPUFAs. The treatment markedly reversed the imbalances in the gut microbial composition, as evidenced by the beta diversity analysis, and decreased the relative abundance of Akkermansia. These findings suggested that LCPUFAs modulated the gut microbial composition and improved airway pathological features in mice with OVA-induced asthma.

Keywords

• Asthma
• Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids
• Gut microbiota
• Pathological features
• BALB/c mice