Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 infection impairs intestinal barrier function, causing intestinal inflammation and enteric dysbacteriosis. The human cathelicidin LL-37 can regulate excessive inflammatory responses, barrier function, and balance the intestinal microbial community; however, little is known about its effects on inflammation, intestinal barrier function, and microbiota disorders in EHEC O157:H7-infected mice. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of LL-37 against EHEC O157:H7 infection and elucidated the underlying mechanism using a mouse model. LL-37 treatment was found to inhibit body weight loss, restore edema and destruction of the intestinal villi, and significantly reduce epithelial apoptosis (P < 0.05) in EHEC O157:H7-infected mice. Furthermore, inflammatory infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils into the jejunum and colon was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). LL-37 significantly downregulated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) (P < 0.05) and upregulated the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) during EHEC O157:H7 infection. LL-37 increased the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, ZO-2, claudin-1, and occludin), which are associated with intestinal barrier function, and had a positive effect on EHEC O157:H7-induced microbial disorders, particularly in terms of the inflammation-related microbiota. LL-37 also significantly decreased the E. coli load in the liver and spleen (P < 0.01) and restored the structure of the liver and kidney. Taken together, LL-37 conferred protection in a EHEC O157:H7-induced mouse model by reducing intestinal inflammation, enhancing intestinal barrier function, and restoring the balance of the intestinal microbiota, which indicates the therapeutic potential of LL-37 against pathogen infection.
Keywords: EHEC O157:H7; Inflammation; Intestinal barrier; Intestinal microbiota; LL-37.
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