Selective estrogen receptor modulator lasofoxifene suppresses spondyloarthritis manifestation and affects characteristics of gut microbiota in zymosan-induced SKG mice

Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 7;11(1):11923. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-91320-1.

Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis is a male-predominant disease and previous study revealed that estrogens have an anti-inflammatory effect on the spondyloarthritis (SpA) manifestations in zymosan-induced SKG mice. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) lasofoxifene (Laso) on disease activity of SpA. Mice were randomized into zymosan-treated, zymosan + 17β-estradiol (E2)-treated, and zymosan + Laso-treated groups. Arthritis was assessed by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) small-animal positron emission tomography/computed tomography and bone mineral density (BMD) was measured. Fecal samples were collected and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was used to determine gut microbiota differences. Both zymosan + E2-treated mice and zymosan + Laso-treated mice showed lower arthritis clinical scores and lower 18F-FDG uptake than zymosan-treated mice. BMD was significantly higher in zymosan + E2-treated mice and zymosan + Laso-treated mice than zymosan-treated mice, respectively. Fecal calprotectin levels were significantly elevated at 8 weeks after zymosan injection in zymosan-treated mice, but it was not significantly changed in zymosan + E2-treated mice and zymosan + Laso-treated mice. Gut microbiota diversity of zymosan-treated mice was significantly different from zymosan + E2-treated mice and zymosan + Laso-treated mice, respectively. There was no significant difference in gut microbiota diversity between zymosan + E2-treated mice and zymosan + Laso -treated mice. Laso inhibited joint inflammation and enhanced BMD in SKG mice, a model of SpA. Laso also affected the composition and biodiversity of gut microbiota. This study provides new knowledge regarding that selected SpA patients could benefit from SERM treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Experimental / chemically induced
  • Arthritis, Experimental / metabolism
  • Arthritis, Experimental / prevention & control*
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bone Density / drug effects
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Estrogens / pharmacology
  • Feces / chemistry
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / metabolism
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / pharmacokinetics
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / drug effects*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / genetics
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / methods
  • Pyrrolidines / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / pharmacology*
  • Spondylarthritis / chemically induced
  • Spondylarthritis / metabolism
  • Spondylarthritis / prevention & control*
  • Tetrahydronaphthalenes / pharmacology*
  • Zymosan

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Estrogens
  • Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex
  • Pyrrolidines
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators
  • Tetrahydronaphthalenes
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Lasofoxifene
  • Estradiol
  • Zymosan