Phosvitin Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice via Gut Microbiota Modulation.

Abstract

Dietary proteins have been demonstrated to alleviate ulcerative colitis. Phosvitin (PSV), a highly phosphorylated protein, possesses biological functions such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. This study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of PSV on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and its underlying mechanisms. Following 4 weeks of PSV intervention (50 mg/kg b.w.), a colitis model was established by administering 2.5% DSS for 1 week. Results showed that PSV intervention significantly attenuated intestinal inflammation, reduced proinflammatory cytokine levels (e.g., TNF-α), and preserved intestinal barrier integrity. Furthermore, PSV modulated the gut microbiota by enhancing microbial diversity, decreasing the abundance ofand, while increasing the abundance ofand. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments further demonstrated the pivotal role of gut microbiota in PSV-mediated colitis prevention, as FMT from PSV-treated donor mice markedly alleviated colitis symptoms, achieving efficacy comparable to that of direct PSV intervention. These findings suggest that PSV alleviates colitis primarily through gut microbiota modulation.