Chitin Glucan Shifts Luminal and Mucosal Microbial Communities, Improve Epithelial Barrier and Modulates Cytokine Production In Vitro

• Main Authors: Marta Calatayud, Lynn Verstrepen, Jonas Ghyselinck, Pieter Van den Abbeele, Massimo Marzorati, Salvatore Modica, Thibaut Ranjanoro, Véronique Maquet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: chitin–glucan; prebiotic; gut microbiome; intestinal barrier; immunomodulation
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/9/3249

The human gut microbiota has been linked to the health status of the host. Modulation of human gut microbiota through pro- and prebiotic interventions has yielded promising results; however, the effect of novel prebiotics, such as chitin–glucan, on gut microbiota–host interplay is still not fully characterized. We assessed the effect of chitin–glucan (CG) and chitin–glucan plus <i>Bifidobacterium breve</i> (CGB) on human gut microbiota from the luminal and mucosal environments in vitro. Further, we tested the effect of filter-sterilized fecal supernatants from CG and CGB fermentation for protective effects on inflammation-induced barrier disruption and cytokine production using a co-culture of enterocytes and macrophage-like cells. Overall, CG and CGB promote health-beneficial short-chain fatty acid production and shift human gut microbiota composition, with a consistent effect increasing <i>Roseburia</i> spp. and butyrate producing-bacteria. In two of three donors, CG and CGB also stimulated <i>Faecalibacterium prausniitzi</i>. Specific colonization of <i>B. breve</i> was observed in the lumen and mucosal compartment; however, no synergy was detected for different endpoints when comparing CGB and CG. Both treatments included a significant improvement of inflammation-disrupted epithelial barrier and shifts on cytokine production, especially by consistent increase in the immunomodulatory cytokines IL10 and IL6.