VSL#3 can prevent ulcerative colitis-associated carcinogenesis in mice.

AIM

To investigate the effects of VSL#3 on tumor formation, and fecal and intestinal mucosal microbiota in azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) induced mice model.

METHODS

C57BL/6 mice were administered AOM/DSS to develop the ulcerative colitis (UC) carcinogenesis model. Mice were treated with 5-ASA (75 mg/kg/d), VSL#3 (1.5 × 10 CFU/d), or 5-ASA combined with VSL#3 by gavage from the day of AOM injection for three months (five days/week). The tumor load was compared in each group, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels were evaluated in colon tissue. The stool and intestinal mucosa samples were collected to analyze the differences in the intestinal microbiota by 16s rDNA sequencing method.

RESULTS

VSL#3 significantly reduced the tumor load in AOM/DSS-induced mice model and decreased the level of TNF-α and IL-6 in colon tissue. The model group had a lower level of and higher level of and in fecal microbiota than the control group. After the intervention with 5-ASA and VSL#3, and were increased, while and were reduced. 5-ASA combined with VSL#3 increased the and decreased the . The intestinal mucosal microbiota analysis showed a lower level of and _UCG-014 and higher level of in the model group as compared to the control group. After supplementation with VSL#3, was increased. 5-ASA combined with VSL#3 increased the level of both and .

CONCLUSION

VSL#3 can prevent UC-associated carcinogenesis in mice, reduce the colonic mucosal inflammation levels, and rebalance the fecal and mucosal intestinal microbiota.