Rejuvenating fecal microbiota transplant enhances peripheral nerve repair in aged mice by modulating endoneurial inflammation

Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved..

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) resulting from trauma or neuropathies can cause significant disability, and its prognosis deteriorates with age. Emerging evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis and reduced fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) contribute to an age-related systemic hyperinflammation (inflammaging), which hinders nerve recovery after injury. This study thus aimed to evaluate the pro-regenerative effects of a rejuvenating fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) in a preclinical PNI model using aged mice. Aged C57BL/6 mice underwent bilateral crush injuries to their sciatic nerves. Subsequently, they either received FMT from young donors at three and four days after the injury or retained their aged gut microbiota. We analyzed gut microbiome composition and SCFA concentrations in fecal samples. The integrity of the ileac mucosal barrier was assessed by immunofluorescence staining of Claudin-1. Flow cytometry was utilized to examine immune cells and cytokine production in the ileum, spleen, and sciatic nerve. Various assessments, including behavioural tests, electrophysiological studies, and morphometrical analyses, were conducted to evaluate peripheral nerve function and repair following injury. Rejuvenating FMT reversed age-related gut dysbiosis by increasing Actinobacteria, especially Bifidobacteriales genera. This intervention also led to an elevation of gut SCFA levels and mitigated age-related ileac mucosal leakiness in aged recipients. Additionally, it augmented the number of T-helper 2 (Th2) and regulatory T (Treg) cells in the ileum and spleen, with the majority being positive for anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (IL-10). In sciatic nerves, rejuvenating FMT resulted in increased M2 macrophage counts and a higher IL-10 production by IL-10+TNF-α- M2 macrophage subsets. Ultimately, restoring a youthful gut microbiome in aged mice led to improved nerve repair and enhanced functional recovery after PNI. Considering that FMT is already a clinically available technique, exploring novel translational strategies targeting the gut microbiome to enhance nerve repair in the elderly seems promising and warrants further evaluation.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:376

Enthalten in:

Experimental neurology - 376(2024) vom: 09. Apr., Seite 114774

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Svačina, Martin K R [VerfasserIn]
Gao, Tong [VerfasserIn]
Sprenger-Svačina, Alina [VerfasserIn]
Lin, Jianxin [VerfasserIn]
Ganesh, Bhanu P [VerfasserIn]
Lee, Juneyoung [VerfasserIn]
McCullough, Louise D [VerfasserIn]
Sheikh, Kazim A [VerfasserIn]
Zhang, Gang [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Bifidobacteriales
Fecal microbiota transplant
Gut microbiome
Inflammaging
Interleukin-10
Journal Article
M2 macrophages
Peripheral nerve injury
Peripheral nerve repair
Short-chain fatty acids

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 11.04.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status Publisher

doi:

10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114774

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM370886909