Protective role of propionate-producing Bacteroides in inflammatory arthritis

Mice were given drinking water containing DSS and then subjected to inflammatory arthritis. We compared phenotypic symptoms between cohoused mice and separately housed mice. Additionally, donor mice were divided into DSS-treated and untreated groups and then cohoused with recipient mice, followed by arthritis induction in recipients. Fecal microbiome was analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. We found that mice treated with DSS have less symptoms of inflammatory arthritis. Nonetheless, the gut microbiota contributed, at least partly, to the colitis-mediated arthritis improvement.

本研究向小鼠饲喂含葡聚糖硫酸钠（Dextran Sulfate Sodium，DSS）的饮用水，随后构建炎症性关节炎小鼠模型，对比了同笼饲养与单独饲养小鼠的表型症状差异。此外，本研究将供体小鼠分为DSS处理组与未处理组，与受体小鼠同笼饲养后对受体小鼠实施关节炎造模；采用16S rRNA扩增子测序（16S rRNA amplicon sequencing）技术分析粪便微生物组，结果显示经DSS处理的小鼠炎症性关节炎症状显著减轻。尽管如此，肠道菌群至少部分参与了结肠炎介导的关节炎病情改善过程。