Probiotic Delivery for Editing of the Gut Microbiota to Mitigate Colitis and Maintain Hepatic Homeostasis Via Gut–Liver Axis

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compromises the intestinal barrier and disrupts gut microbiota, impacting liver function via the gut–liver axis, which in turn influences the intestinal microbiota through lipid metabolites exacerbating IBD. This study introduced a probiotic-based treatment using Lactobacillus acidophilus encapsulated in tungsten ion-loaded mesoporous polydopamine (LA@WMPDA) to ameliorate colitis and balance enterohepatic homeostasis. After oral administration, the encapsulation could protect Lactobacillus acidophilus, scavenge reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, and the released tungsten ions would inhibit abnormal Enterobacteriaceae growth during colitis, consequently restoring the intestinal barrier and regulating the gut microbiota. Nontargeted metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses showed increased short-chain fatty acids and indole derivatives, and decreased hepatic lipid metabolism. Pathways associated with immune response, cell migration and death, and response to bacterium showed significant down-regulation in the colon and liver transcriptome analysis. Thus, this study provided a pioneered paradigm for IBD treatment and highlighted the regulation of liver-related metabolic functions via the gut–liver axis.