Gut Microbiota-driven Tryptophan Metabolism Towards the Indole Pathway Mediates Schisandra Chinensis Polysaccharide's Alleviation of Ulcerative Colitis and Comorbid Depression via Aryl Hydrocarbon Rec
4 days ago
- #Aryl hydrocarbon receptor
- #Tryptophan metabolism
- #Gut microbiota
- A novel low-molecular-weight Schisandra chinensis polysaccharide (SCP) alleviates ulcerative colitis (UC) and comorbid depression.
- SCP remodels gut microbiota, redirects tryptophan (Trp) metabolism toward the indole pathway, and activates aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR).
- SCP mitigates colonic inflammation, restores intestinal barrier integrity, and improves depression-like behaviors in UC mice.
- SCP enriches beneficial microbiota (e.g., Limosilactobacillus reuteri) and rebalances Trp metabolism along the gut-brain axis.
- SCP suppresses the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway and elevates indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) levels in colon, serum, and hippocampus.
- IPA exerts dual anti-inflammatory effects in colon and hippocampus via AhR activation and NF-κB inhibition.
- SCP's efficacy is microbiota-dependent, validated by antibiotic depletion and fecal microbiota transplantation.
- AhR inhibition abolishes SCP's therapeutic actions, confirming AhR as the critical target.