Cesarean section increases sensitivity to oxazolone-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice

Mucosal Immunol. 2019 Nov;12(6):1348-1357. doi: 10.1038/s41385-019-0207-8. Epub 2019 Sep 25.

Abstract

Children born by cesarean section (CS) have an increased risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), possibly due to skewed microbial colonization during birth and consequently impaired bacterial stimulation of the developing immune system. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between CS and experimental colitis in a murine model of IBD. It was hypothesized that CS aggravates colonic inflammation due to a change in gut microbiota (GM) composition. C57BL/6 mice, delivered by CS or vaginal delivery (VD), were intra-rectally challenged with oxazolone at 8 weeks of age and monitored for colitis symptoms. The results showed that CS delivered mice experienced an increased body weight loss and colon weight, together with higher colonic concentrations of TNF-α and MPO compared with VD mice. Increased infiltration of inflammatory cells was present in CS delivered mice, as well as a downregulation in expression of the gut integrity genes occludin and tight junction protein 1 indicative of an impaired barrier function. The GM from CS delivered mice without colitis partly contributed to the increase in colitis symptoms when inoculated into germ-free recipient mice. In conclusion, CS increased sensitivity to oxazolone induced colitis in mice.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cesarean Section / adverse effects*
  • Colitis / chemically induced*
  • Colitis / immunology
  • Colitis / metabolism
  • Colitis / microbiology
  • Colon / immunology*
  • Colon / metabolism
  • Colon / microbiology
  • Colon / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / microbiology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Oxazolone*
  • Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Tnf protein, mouse
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Oxazolone
  • Peroxidase