Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Exerts Neuroprotective Effects in a Mouse Spinal Cord Injury Model by Modulating the Microenvironment at the Lesion Site
Yingli Jing, Fan Bai, Limiao Wang, Degang Yang, Yitong Yan, Qiuying Wang, Yanbing Zhu, Yan Yu, Zhiguo Chen
Abstract
FMT treatment shows a profound impact on the microenvironment that involves microcirculation, blood-spinal cord-barrier, activation of immune cells, and secretion of neurotrophic factors. Analysis of metabolic profiles reveals around 22 differentially detected metabolites between the groups, and β-alanine was further chosen for functional validation experiments. Supplementation of SCI mice with β-alanine significantly improves neuronal survival, and the integrity of blood-spinal cord-barrier at the lesion site, suggesting that β-alanine might be one of the mediators following FMT that has contributed to the recovery.
Topics & Concepts
Spinal cord injuryNeuroprotectionTransplantationSpinal cordInflammationMicrogliaMedicineNeuroscienceBiologyImmunologyInternal medicineAcupuncture Treatment Research StudiesWound Healing and TreatmentsSpinal Cord Injury Research