Modulation of tryptophan metabolism via AHR-IL22 pathway mediates the alleviation of DSS-induced colitis by chitooligosaccharides with different degrees of polymerization

Yu Wang; Xiaoguo Ji; Mengyao Zhao; Juan Li; Hao Yin; Jiayang Jin; Liming Zhao

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121180

Modulation of tryptophan metabolism via AHR-IL22 pathway mediates the alleviation of DSS-induced colitis by chitooligosaccharides with different degrees of polymerization

Carbohydr Polym. 2023 Nov 1:319:121180. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121180. Epub 2023 Jul 12.

Authors

Yu Wang¹, Xiaoguo Ji², Mengyao Zhao³, Juan Li⁴, Hao Yin⁴, Jiayang Jin⁵, Liming Zhao⁶

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology (SCICBT), Shanghai 200237, China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Shanghai 200237, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Shanghai 200237, China.
⁴ Organ Transplant Center, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Shanghai 200237, China. Electronic address: jinjiayang@ecust.edu.cn.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Organ Transplant Center, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology (SCICBT), Shanghai 200237, China. Electronic address: zhaoliming@ecust.edu.cn.

PMID: 37567716
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121180

Abstract

Oral administration of chitooligosaccharides (COS) has been reported to alleviate colitis in mice. However, the mechanism of action of COS with specific polymerization degree on gut inflammation and metabolism remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chitobiose (COS2), chitotetraose (COS4), and chitohexaose (COS6) on colitis, and to elucidate their underlying mechanisms. COS2, COS4, and COS6 were able to significantly alleviate colonic injury and inflammation levels. COS6 has the best anti-inflammatory effect. Furthermore, COS6 could down-regulate the level of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase1 (IDO1) and restore the levels of indole, indoleacetic-3-acid (IAA), and indole-3-carbaldehyde (I3A) in the cecum of chronic colitis mice (p < 0.05), thereby regulating tryptophan metabolism. In the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor-IL-22 (AHR-IL-22) pathway, although there were differences between chronic colitis and acute colitis mice, COS intervention could restore the AHR-IL-22 pathway to normal, promote the expression of MUC2, and repair the intestinal mucosal barrier. In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that COS had a good inhibitory effect on IDO1 under inflammation and the changes of AHR and IL-22 levels at different stages of disease development. This provides new insights into the potential use of COS as a functional food for improving intestinal inflammation and metabolism.

Keywords: AHR-IL-22; Chitobiose (PubChem CID:16213812); Chitohexaose (PubChem CID:14605618); Chitooligosaccharides; Chitopentaose (PubChem CID:14055040); Chitotetraose (PubChem CID:70702330); Chitotriose (PubChem CID:11060176); Colitis; IDO1; Indole (PubChem CID:798); Indole lactic acid (PubChem CID:53700591); Indole-3-acetic acid (PubChem CID:802); Indole-3-carboxaldehyde (PubChem CID:10256); L-Tryptophan (PubChem CID:6305); Tryptophan metabolism.

MeSH terms

Animals
Colitis* / chemically induced
Colitis* / drug therapy
Colitis* / metabolism
Inflammation
Interleukin-22
Mice
Polymerization
Tryptophan*

Substances

oligochitosan
Tryptophan