A synbiotic ameliorates Con A-induced autoimmune hepatitis in mice through modulation of gut microbiota and immune imbalance

Scope: Changes in the intestinal flora is related to autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) development. The aim of this study was to investigate the synergistic effects of probiotics and prebiotics on liver injury induced by concanavalin A (Con A). Methods and Results: C57BL/6 mice were fed probiotics (Pro), prebiotics (Pre), synbiotic (Syn) for 7 day and then Con A was injected via tail veins to induce AIH. Additionally, methylprednisolone (MP) was gavaged 0.5 h after the Con A injection. It was found that both Pro, Pre, Syn and MP decreased the levels of serum transaminase, liver F4/80+ macrophage cells and hepatocellular apoptosis. Pro, Pre and Syn decreased proinflammatory cytokines, elevated levels of anti-inflammatory as well as restored immune imbalance in AIH. Besides, Pro, Pre and Syn not only reshaped the perturbed gut microbiota, but also maintained intestinal barrier integrity, blocked the activation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/TLR4/NF-kB pathway in the liver. Interestingly, the effects of Syn were superior to Pro or Pre alone in Con A-induced acute liver injury.Conclusions: Syn obviously facilitated AIH remission. The combined use of Pro and Pre is effective in improving Pro and Pre efficacy and can be an important tool for preventing and adjuvant treating patients for AIH.