Disease progression-associated alterations in fecal metabolites in SAMP1/YitFc mice, a Crohn's disease model

Introduction Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory bowel disease affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Although its precise etiology has not been fully elucidated, an imbalance of the intestinal microbiota has been known to play a role in CD. Fecal metabolites derived from microbiota may be related to the onset and progression of CD Objectives This study aimed to clarify the transition of gut microbiota and fecal metabolites associated with disease progression using SAMP1/YitFc mice, a model of spontaneous CD Methods The ileum tissues isolated from SAMP1/YitFc mice at different ages were stained with hematoxylin-eosin for histologic characterization with CD progression. Feces from control, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR; n = 6), and SAMP1/YitFc (n = 8) mice at different ages were subjected to microbial analysis and H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis to investigate fluctuations in gut microbiota and fecal metabolites with CD progression Results Relative abundance of the Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Bacteroidales S24-7 at family-level gut microbiota and fecal metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, lactate, glucose, xylose, and choline, dramatically fluctuated with histologic progression of intestinal inflammation in SAMP1/YitFc mice. Unlike the other metabolites, fecal taurine concentration in SAMP1/YitFc mice was higher than ICR mice regardless of age Conclusion The fecal metabolites showing characteristic fluctuations may help to understand the inflammatory mechanism associated with CD, and might be utilized as potential biomarkers in predicting CD pathology.