Assessing the Effects of a Synthetic Flaxseed Lignan on the Gut Microbiome
Additional Funding Sources
The project described was supported by funds allocated by the BSU Biomolecular Research Center as part of an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) received from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institute of Health (P20GM103408), (P20GM109095).
Abstract
In healthy individuals, the gut microbiome serves many functions: it aids in digestion, confers protection against pathogenic organisms, synthesizes essential vitamins and minerals, and plays an important role in the immune system. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome can cause dysregulation of these functions and has been linked to systemic autoimmune disease (SAID) in both humans and animal models. Dietary intervention has been shown to be an effective means of improving gut health and ameliorating inflammatory responses associated with SAID by beneficially altering the diversity of gut microbes. Previous studies have demonstrated that dietary flaxseed administration may attenuate gut dysbiosis and reduce acute inflammation. Therefore, we hypothesized that oral administration of LGM2605, a synthetic flaxseed derivative, would beneficially alter the gut microbiome of mice. To investigate this, mice were treated with LGM2605 via oral gavage over a 10-day period. Mouse cecums were then extracted, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed in order to identify microbial genera of interest. The abundance and diversity of gut microbes were compared between treatment groups using Microbiome Analyst and R. Alterations in the composition of the gut microbiome as a result of LGM2605 treatment were observed. Analyses of specific changes in gut microbial communities are ongoing.
Assessing the Effects of a Synthetic Flaxseed Lignan on the Gut Microbiome
In healthy individuals, the gut microbiome serves many functions: it aids in digestion, confers protection against pathogenic organisms, synthesizes essential vitamins and minerals, and plays an important role in the immune system. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome can cause dysregulation of these functions and has been linked to systemic autoimmune disease (SAID) in both humans and animal models. Dietary intervention has been shown to be an effective means of improving gut health and ameliorating inflammatory responses associated with SAID by beneficially altering the diversity of gut microbes. Previous studies have demonstrated that dietary flaxseed administration may attenuate gut dysbiosis and reduce acute inflammation. Therefore, we hypothesized that oral administration of LGM2605, a synthetic flaxseed derivative, would beneficially alter the gut microbiome of mice. To investigate this, mice were treated with LGM2605 via oral gavage over a 10-day period. Mouse cecums were then extracted, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed in order to identify microbial genera of interest. The abundance and diversity of gut microbes were compared between treatment groups using Microbiome Analyst and R. Alterations in the composition of the gut microbiome as a result of LGM2605 treatment were observed. Analyses of specific changes in gut microbial communities are ongoing.