Metagenomics-Metabolomics Reveals the Alleviation of Indole-3-Ethanol on Radiation-Induced Enteritis in Mice

• Published in: Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol. 35; pp. e2502037 - 14
• Main Authors: Zhong, Hua, Song, Yipeng, Hu, Shanliang, Zhang, Chengxu, Li, Lili
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology 18.07.2025; 한국미생물·생명공학회
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Colon - drug effects; Colon - pathology; Colon - radiation effects; Cytokines - metabolism; Enteritis - drug therapy; Enteritis - etiology; Enteritis - metabolism; Enteritis - microbiology; Enteritis - pathology; Gastrointestinal Microbiome - drug effects; Indoles - metabolism; Indoles - pharmacology; Interleukin-17 - metabolism; Male; Metabolomics - methods; Metagenomics - methods; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Research article; 생물학; Gut microbiota; radiotherapy; radiation enteritis; indole-3-ethanol; metabolites
• ISSN: 1017-7825; 1738-8872
• DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2502.02037

Indole-3-ethanol (IEt), a small molecule metabolite from intestinal microbial tryptophan metabolism, has been established to have anti-inflammatory properties. However, its effect on radiation-induced enteritis has not been reported. Here, we aim to explore the effects and potential mechanisms of IEt on radiation enteritis. C57BL/6J mice were orally administered an IEt solution before radiation exposure. Inflammatory factors, including IL-17A, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-1β, were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Colonic histopathology was assessed through H&E staining. Subsequently, gut microbiota and its metabolites were analyzed using metagenomics and metabolomics. The results suggested that IEt alleviated radiation-induced enteritis, as evidenced by improved colonic structural integrity, decreased levels of pro-inflammatory factors like IL-17A, and the restoration of intestinal microecological and metabolic balance. IEt enriched the abundance of Lachnospiraceae family members, particularly the genus - a known anti-inflammatory commensal. In addition, IEt upregulated the levels of metabolites with anti-inflammatory effects such as indole-3-carbinol, pteridine, and pyropheophorbide-a. Furthermore, was significantly positively correlated with indole-3-carbinol and negatively correlated with the pro-inflammatory factor IL-17A. Therefore, IEt may alleviate radiation enteritis through -indole-3-carbinol and -IL-17A axes. This study revealed the potential mechanisms by which IEt alleviated radiation enteritis, providing a potential protective candidate for radiation enteritis.