Growing evidence for the importance of the gut-brain axis in Parkinson's disease (PD) has attracted researchers' interest in the possible application of microbiota-based treatment approaches. Using a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mouse model, we looked into the prospect of treating PD with fucosylated chondroitin sulfate obtained from sea cucumbers Isostichopus badionotus (fCS-Ib). We showed that giving fCS-Ib polysaccharide orally greatly reduced the motor deficits, dopamine depletion, and alpha-synuclein increase caused by MPTP in the substantia nigra (SN). It appears that the anti-PD action of fCS-Ib polysaccharide could be attained by squelching inflammation. Glial cell hyperactivation in SN and overproduction of proinflammatory substances in serum could both be suppressed by fCS-Ib polysaccharide injection. The bacterial DNA in fresh colonic feces was submitted to 16S rRNA and untargeted metabolic analyses to confirm the participation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in the aforementioned interpretation. The findings showed that the MPTP treatment-induced decrease in norank_f_Muribaculaceae and the increase in Staphylococcus were reversed by the administration of fCS-Ib polysaccharide. The NF-κB signaling pathway was shown to be involved in the fCS-Ib polysaccharide-induced anti-inflammation. In conclusion, our research demonstrated for the first time how fCS-Ib polysaccharide combats PD by reducing inflammation caused by gut microbial dysbiosis.
Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; gut microbiota; inflammation; sea cucumber fucosylated chondroitin sulfate.