Microbiota Modulation and Inflammation in Murine Models
Summary
Research in murine models has revealed that complex interactions between the intestinal microbiota and the host immune system govern the onset, progression and resolution of inflammatory responses. Colitis models induced by chemical agents such as dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) or by carcinogen–inflammation protocols (azoxymethane plus DSS) have allowed dissection of how dietary components, prebiotics and microbial metabolites influence gut barrier integrity, immune cell recruitment and cytokine production. Parallel studies in mice fed high-fat diets or receiving targeted microbial modulators have highlighted the role of specific bacterial taxa in regulating lipid metabolism, systemic inflammation and mucosal homeostasis. Mechanistic focus has centred on the production of short-chain fatty acids, modulation of pattern-recognition receptor signalling, and the expression of host mediators such as angiopoietin-like protein 4 in response to microbial cues. Collectively, these models illuminate potential strategies to harness or reshape the gut ecosystem for prevention and control of inflammatory disorders in humans.
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Microbiota Modulation and Inflammation in Murine Models publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in microbiota modulation and inflammation in murine models across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS): A chemical agent used to induce colitis in rodents by damaging epithelial cells and triggering inflammation.
Azoxymethane (AOM): A carcinogen employed in combination with DSS to model colitis-associated colon cancer in mice.
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs): Microbial metabolites (e.g., acetate, propionate, butyrate) that support epithelial health and modulate immune responses.
Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4): A host glycoprotein involved in lipid metabolism and inflammatory regulation, whose expression is influenced by the gut microbiota.
Prebiotics: Non-digestible dietary compounds that selectively stimulate growth or activity of beneficial gut microorganisms.
References
- Integrated Microbiota and Metabolite Changes following Rice Bran Intake during Murine Inflammatory Colitis-Associated Colon Cancer and in Colorectal Cancer Survivors. Cancers (2023).
- Effect of Functional Oligosaccharides and Ordinary Dietary Fiber on Intestinal Microbiota Diversity. Frontiers in Microbiology (2017).
- Allobaculum Involves in the Modulation of Intestinal ANGPTLT4 Expression in Mice Treated by High-Fat Diet. Frontiers in Nutrition (2021).
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