Inulin-type fructans, including inulin, oligofructose and synthetic fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are considered prebiotics, which are defined as non-digestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth, composition and/or activity of health-promoting bacteria already present in the colon(Reference Gibson, Probert and Rastall1). In rodent models, prebiotics have been shown to enhance the thickness of the epithelial mucus layer(Reference Kleessen, Hartmann and Blaut2), and increase the proportion of lymphocytes and increase ex vivo cytokine secretion in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue(Reference Roller, Rehkemmer and Watzl3–Reference Hosono, Ozawa and Kato6). Furthermore, prebiotics have been shown to increase the proportion of dendritic cells in the lamina propria of patients with Crohn's disease(Reference Lindsay, Whelan and Stagg7).
Dendritic cells play an important link between the innate and acquired immune systems. The major function of dendritic cells is to process and present antigens to CD4+T helper cells (Th) in a stimulatory or tolerogenic fashion(Reference Smits, Engering and van der Kleij8). Activated Th can differentiate into Th1 or Th2 cells depending on the type of antigen and cytokines that they encounter(Reference Kidd9). Viruses and bacteria influence naive T cells to become Th1 cells, which drive cell-mediated immunity. Th1 cells secrete the cytokines IL-2 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), which activate CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and induce antibody-class switching to IgG2a(Reference Benjamini, Coico and Sunshine10). Allergens and parasites favour the Th2 pathway, which is essential for humoral immunity and promoting antibody-class switching to IgG1(Reference Kidd9). Tolerogenic responses are attributed to regulatory T-cells (Treg) which are important in the presence of dietary antigens and commensal bacteria(Reference Smits, Engering and van der Kleij8). Treg secrete cytokines such as IL-10, which suppress the activation of Th1 and Th2 cells(Reference Allez and Mayer11).
Initial studies show that prebiotics may increase the absorption of Zn(Reference Delzenne, Aertssens and Verplaetse12, Reference Raschka and Daniel13), a mineral known to play a central role in the immune system. Clinical manifestations of Zn deficiency include: growth retardation, reduced appetite, and immunodeficiency(Reference King, Keen, Shils, Olso, Shike and Ross14); the suppression of cytotoxic T cell activity(Reference Shankar and Prasad15); a reduction in the number of B cells and their precursors(Reference Ibs and Rink16); alteration of cytokine secretion(Reference Prasad, Meftah and Abdallah17–Reference Bao, Prasad and Beck20). Most Zn research has focused on systemic immunity; the effect of Zn deficiency on the gut-associated lymphoid tissue is unclear. Villous atrophy, oedema, mucosal ulceration, necrosis and inflammation have all been observed in the small intestine of Zn-deficient rat models(Reference Elmes and Jones21, Reference Mengheri, Nobili and Vignolini22). Furthermore, Zn may play a role in intestinal permeability as demonstrated by the positive effects of Zn supplementation on gut permeability in rats with acute colitis(Reference Sturniolo, Fries and Mazzon23) and patients with Crohn's disease(Reference Sturniolo, Di Leo and Ferronato24). Since Zn deficiency has been shown to damage the intestinal tract, perhaps Zn deficiency may also increase intestinal permeability and alter the immune cells in the gut.
To date, no research has explored the effects of prebiotics on gut and immune function using a Zn-deficient model. This research may be important for diseases such as HIV, AIDS and inflammatory bowel diseases, where Zn deficiency is common and can exacerbate symptoms(Reference Baum, Campa and Lai25–Reference Griffin, Kim and Hicks27). Prebiotics could be advantageous for ameliorating intestinal damage caused by Zn deficiency based on previous research with probiotics and Zn deficiency. Mengheri et al. (Reference Mengheri, Nobili and Vignolini22) found that the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis reduced intestinal damage in Zn-deficient rats. Unlike prebiotics, probiotics are live bacteria that provide health benefits when consumed. Since prebiotics have been shown to increase bifidobacteria in the colon(Reference Menne, Guggenbuhl and Roberfroid28), these findings suggest that prebiotics could indirectly protect the intestine against damage caused by Zn deficiency. Prebiotics may improve both gut and cell-mediated immune function; therefore, we hypothesised that inulin might be beneficial during Zn deficiency. Thus, the objective of the present research was to determine if inulin alters the number and proportion of immune cells in the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and Peyer's patches (PP), and ex vivo cytokine secretion as well as intestinal permeability, an indicator of gut barrier function, in growing female rats. An additional objective was to determine if inulin modulates these immune parameters and Zn status in Zn-adequate v. Zn-deficient states.
Materials and methods
Animals and diets
Sixty female Sprague–Dawley rats, aged 3 weeks (Charles River Laboratories, St Constant, QC, Canada), weighing about 50–70 g were acclimatised for 7 d and then randomly assigned to a Zn normal (ZN) control diet (30 mg Zn/kg diet, 5 % cellulose) supplemented with either cellulose (CEL; 5 % cellulose; n 30) or inulin (PRE; 5 % inulin, Beneo™HP; n 30) for 4 weeks. Beneo™HP is a long-chain inulin with an average degree of polymerisation >23, and was provided by the Orafti Group (Tienen, Belgium). For an additional 4 weeks, ten rats remained in their original groups (ZN-CEL, n 10; ZN-PRE, n 10). The remaining forty rats were fed a Zn-deficient diet (ZD; 1 mg Zn per kg diet) supplemented with cellulose (ZD-CEL; n 10) or inulin (ZD-PRE; n 10) or fed the Zn normal cellulose diet in restricted amounts (DR-CEL; n 10) or Zn normal inulin diet in restricted amounts (DR-PRE; n 10). These latter two groups were designated as diet-restricted (DR) groups. The DR rats were individually pair-fed to the ZD rats, and all other groups were provided diet ad libitum. A consequence of Zn deficiency is a reduction in feed intake and growth, thus a DR group was required to differentiate the effects of malnutrition v. Zn deficiency per se. The 4-week Zn deficiency period was based on a preliminary study which demonstrated that serum and femur Zn concentrations were reduced by 76 and 30 %, respectively, in male Sprague–Dawley rats, aged 9 weeks, after consuming a 1 mg Zn/kg diet for 3 weeks (NR Ryz and CG Taylor, unpublished results). Female rats were chosen for the present study because Zn deficiency is more prevalent in the female population(Reference Walker and Black29) and there is a lack of experimental Zn research using females as the animal model. The diet formulations, based on the AIN-93G diet, are shown in Table 1. The PRE diet (5 % inulin +5 % cellulose) was designed to have a sufficient amount of prebiotic to affect immune responses while minimising gastrointestinal side effects(Reference Hosono, Ozawa and Kato6, Reference Verghese, Rao and Chawan30) and to include a source of insoluble fibre for faecal bulking. The rats were maintained in an environment of controlled temperature (21–23°C), humidity (55 %) and light cycle (14 h light − 10 h dark). Feed intake was determined daily and body weights were determined weekly. The protocol for animal care procedures received ethics approval from the University of Manitoba Protocol Management and Review Committee.
Table 1 Diet formulations*
CEL, cellulose; ZD-CEL, Zn-deficient cellulose; PRE, prebiotic inulin; ZD-PRE, Zn-deficient prebiotic inulin.
* All ingredients were from Harlan Teklad (Madison, WI, USA) except potassium phosphate (Fisher Scientific, Mississauga, ON, Canada), tert-butylhydroquinone (Aldrich Chemical Company Inc., Milwaukee, WI, USA) and inulin (Orafti Group, Tienen, Belgium).
† Biotin mix was 200 mg biotin/kg cerelose.
‡ Zn premix was 5·775 g zinc carbonate per kg cerelose.
§ Additional potassium phosphate was added to make the AIN-93M-MX Zn-free mineral mix equivalent to the AIN-93G-MX.
Intestinal permeability
Animals were tested for intestinal permeability using sucrose, lactulose and mannitol probes as previously described(Reference Meddings and Gibbons31, Reference Meddings, Jarand and Urbanskik32). Elevated concentrations of these intact probes in the urine represent increased permeability in the stomach (sucrose) and small intestine (lactulose:mannitol ratio)(Reference Meddings, Jarand and Urbanskik32). At 5 d before the end of the study, rats were fasted (no food or water) for 4 h, then given a 2 ml solution containing 1 g sucrose, 120 mg lactulose and 80 mg mannitol by oral administration. Animals were placed in individual metabolism cages for 2 h with no food or water, and then allowed free access to water for the next 22 h. During this time, urine was collected into plastic tubes containing 10 % thymol as an antibacterial agent and 100 μl mineral oil to prevent evaporation. The HPLC methods to determine sucrose, lactulose and mannitol have been previously reported(Reference Meddings and Gibbons31).
Tissue collection
Rats were euthanised by CO2 asphyxiation and decapitation. Trunk blood was collected and stored on ice until centrifuged to obtain serum and stored at − 80°C. The spleen and MLN were removed aseptically, weighed and processed as previously described(Reference Field, Goruk and Glen33). The small intestine was flushed with 30 ml cold, sterile Hanks' balanced salt solution with 4 mm-dithiothreitol, weighed and measured, and PP were removed and immediately processed as previously described(Reference Stillie, Bell and Field34). To determine total viable cell numbers per tissue, cells were counted using a haemocytometer and trypan blue to distinguish viable from non-viable cells.
Fluorescence staining of lymphocyte subpopulations
Single-cell suspensions (1 × 106 mononuclear cells/tube) from spleen, MLN and PP were incubated with monoclonal antibodies (obtained, unless stated otherwise, from BD Pharminigen, Mississauga, ON, Canada) for T cell receptor (TCR)-αβ (R-phycoerythrin label, R73 clone), TCRγδ (fluorescein isothiocyanate label, V65 clone), CD4 (allophycocyanin label, OX-35 clone), CD8a (peridinin–chlorophyll–protein complex label, OX-8 clone), CD45RA (phycoerythrin-Cy5 label, OX-33 clone, which recognises a cell-surface glycoprotein expressed by mature B-cells in the rat) and OX62 (R-phycoerythrin label, MRC OX-62 clone; Serotec, MorphoSyS, Raleigh, NC, USA). OX62 recognises an integrin expressed on both dendritic cells and γδ T cells in the rat(Reference Brenan and Puklavec35); thus, in the present study, dendritic cells were defined as OX62+TCRγδ− . The sample combinations for dual-laser analysis were tube 1, TCRαβ, TCRγδ, CD4 and CD8 or their respective isotype controls, and tube 2, CD45RA, OX-62 and TCRγδ or their respective isotype controls. Flow cytometry analysis was performed on a BD FACSCalibur cytometer (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA, USA) using the BD FACStation data management system software provided with the instrument. Fluorochrome-isotype matched controls were prepared to assess autofluorescence and non-specific binding, and single-colour samples were employed to adjust colour compensation. Phenotype results were expressed as both proportion and as total number of cells per total tissue collected (calculated by multiplying the percentage for each phenotype by cell counts obtained using the haemocytometer).
Cytokines
Single-cell suspensions (1 × 106 mononuclear cells/tube) from spleen and MLN were stimulated with 100 μl concanavalin A (2·5 μg/ml; MP Biomedicals, Solon, OH, USA) for 48 h at 37°C, 5 % CO2 and 95 % humidity. Concentrations of IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-10 in the supernatant fractions were measured by a rat LINCOplex kit (Linco Research Inc., St Charles, MO, USA) following the manufacturer's instructions and analysed with Luminex technology (Lincoplex 200; Luminex Corporation, Austin, TX, USA). Samples were analysed in duplicate and agreement was ≥ 80 %.
IgG1 and IgG2a
A sandwich ELISA method was used to measure IgG1 and IgG2a in the serum. All antibodies and buffers were obtained from BD Pharminigen, Mississauga, Canada unless otherwise noted. Maxisorb ninety-six-well microtiter plates (NUNC, Roskilde, Denmark) were coated with 100 μl of appropriate coating antibody (mouse anti-rat IgG1 or IgG2a monoclonal antibody diluted 0·20 or 0·50 μg/ml, respectively, in PBS) and incubated for 1 h at room temperature on a shaker. After incubating with 200 μl of blocking buffer (PBS containing 1 % (w/v) bovine serum albumin) for 30 min and washing once (PBS, containing 0·05 % (v/v) Tween 20), 100 μl of blanks (blocking buffer), standards (rat reference serum diluted over a range of about 2–1000 ng/ml; Bethyl Laboratories, Montgomery, TX, USA) and samples (diluted 40 000 times with blocking buffer) were added and incubated for 1 h at room temperature on a shaker. After washing three times, 100 μl of appropriate detection antibody (biotin-conjugated mouse anti-rat IgG1 or IgG2a monoclonal antibody diluted 0·20 or 0·50 μg/ml, respectively, in blocking buffer) was added and incubated for 1 h at room temperature on a shaker. Plates were washed six times and avidin–horseradish peroxidase conjugate diluted 1:1000 in blocking buffer was added and incubated for 30 min at room temperature on a shaker. Plates were washed six times, and 100 μl tetramethylbenzidine substrate was added, incubated for 20 min at room temperature on a shaker, followed by the addition of 1·0 m-phosphoric acid (50 μl) to stop the reaction. Absorbance was read at 450–570 nm using a microplate reader (SpectraMax 340; Molecular Devices Corp., Sunnyville, CA, USA) and analysed with a 4-parametric logistic curve fit using SOFTmax PRO Software (version 1.2.0; Molecular Devices Corp.). Samples were analysed in triplicate and agreement was ≥ 85 %.
Mineral analysis
Right femurs were excised and thoroughly cleaned of soft tissue. Whole femurs and diet samples were wet-ashed using trace element-grade nitric acid(Reference Clegg, Keen and Lonnerdal36) in disposable DigiPrep tubes (SCP Science, Baie d'Urfé, QC, Canada) over 6–7 h at 85°C in a DigiPrep HP heater (SCP Science). Acid digests and serum were diluted appropriately with double-deionised water before the analysis of Zn by atomic absorption spectrometry (Varian Canada, Georgetown, ON, Canada).
Statistical methods
Data were analysed by two-way ANOVA (SAS, version 9.1; SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA) for main effects: fibre (PRE v. CEL), diet (ZN, ZD or DR) and fibre × diet interaction, while feed efficiency was analysed using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. A significant main effect for fibre determined that pooled means for fibre (CEL (n 30) represents ZN-CEL, ZD-CEL and DR-CEL; PRE (n 30) represents ZN-PRE, ZD-PRE and DR-PRE) were significantly different. When main effects for diet were significant, Duncan's multiple-range test was used to determine significant differences among pooled means for diet (ZN (n 20) represents ZN-CEL and ZN-PRE; ZD (n 20) represents ZD-CEL and ZD-PRE; DR (n 20) represents DR-CEL and DR-PRE). When the fibre × diet interaction was significant, contrast statements were used to determine differences among the six study groups. When necessary, data were normalised by log transformation but non-transformed means are reported. The level of significance was set at P < 0·05. All data are reported as mean values with their standard errors.
Results
In the case of no significant interaction (i.e. the effect of fibre (CEL or PRE) was similar regardless of diet (ZN, ZD or DR)), the results are presented for the main effect of fibre and the main effect of diet.
Zinc status and lymphoid organs
After 8 weeks, the total feed intake of PRE rats was about 7 % lower compared with CEL rats, but there was no difference in final body weight (Table 2) or feed efficiency (Fig. 1 (A)) throughout the study. ZD and DR rats consumed 6 % less total feed and had a 10 % lower final body weight compared with ZN rats. There was no difference in total feed intake or final body weight between ZD and DR rats; however, the feed efficiency of DR rats was higher than ZD rats at week 6 and week 7 (Fig. 1 (B)). There was no difference in serum Zn or femur Zn between CEL and PRE rats. In ZD rats, serum Zn and femur Zn were reduced by 85 % and about 30 %, respectively, compared with both ZN and DR rats. There was a significant fibre × diet interaction such that femur Zn concentrations in DR-PRE rats were 21 % higher than DR-CEL rats (Fig. 2) but there was no difference between ZN-CEL and ZN-PRE or between ZD-CEL and ZD-PRE rats. There was no difference in the Zn content of the ZN-CEL compared with the ZN-PRE diet (35·3 (sem 2·3) and 34·3 (sem 1·0) mg Zn/kg diet, respectively; P < 0·05) or the ZD-CEL compared with the ZD-PRE diet (1·17 (sem 0·02) and 1·12 (sem 0·29) mg Zn/kg diet, respectively; P < 0·05). There was no difference in spleen weight among ZN, ZD or DR animals. However, when adjusted for body weight, the spleen of ZD and DR rats weighed 10 % more than those of ZN rats. The small intestine weight and length of PRE rats were about 5 % greater than those of CEL rats.
Table 2 Body weight, feed intake, serum zinc and lymphoid organs*
(Mean values with their standard errors)
CEL, cellulose; PRE, prebiotic inulin; ZN, Zn normal control diet; ZD, Zn-deficient diet; DR, Zn normal control diet provided in restricted amounts.
a,b For the diet effect, mean values within a row with unlike superscript letters were significantly different (P ≤ 0·05).
* As there were no interactions between fibre (CEL or PRE) and diet (ZN, ZD, DR), but there were significant main effects of fibre and significant main effects of diet, data were pooled to show pooled means for the main effects only.
† CEL (n 30) represents ZN-CEL, ZD-CEL and DR-CEL groups and PRE (n 30) represents ZN-PRE, ZD-PRE and DR-PRE groups; for details, see Animals and diets.
‡ ZN (n 20) represents ZN-CEL and ZN-PRE groups, ZD (n 20) represents ZD-CEL and ZD-PRE groups and DR (n 20) represents DR-CEL and DR-PRE groups; for details, see Animals and diets.
Fig. 1 Feed efficiency over time (calculated as g weight gain per week/g feed intake per week). (A) Fibre effect, (B) diet effect. (○), Cellulose; (●), prebiotic inulin; (△), Zn normal control diet; (▲), Zn-deficient diet; (□), Zn normal control diet provided in restricted amounts. Values are means, with standard errors represented by vertical bars. For details of groups, see Table 2. Data were analysed by two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. There was a significant main effect for diet (P < 0·0001). There were no significant main effects for fibre or fibre × diet interaction. a,b,c Mean values with unlike letters were significantly different (P ≤ 0·05).
Fig. 2 Femur Zn concentration. ZN-CEL, Zn normal cellulose; ZD-CEL, Zn-deficient cellulose; DR-CEL, diet restricted cellulose; ZN-PRE, Zn normal prebiotic inulin; ZD-PRE, Zn-deficient prebiotic inulin; DR-PRE, diet restricted prebiotic inulin. Values are means, with standard errors represented by vertical bars. Significant main effects were fibre (P = 0·0001), diet (P < 0·0001) and fibre × diet interaction (P = 0·0042). Since there was a significant interaction by two-way ANOVA, individual study groups are shown. *Mean value was significantly different from that of the ZN-CEL and DR-CEL groups (P ≤ 0·05). † Mean value was significantly different from that of the ZN-PRE and DR-PRE groups (P ≤ 0·05). ‡ Mean value was significantly different from that of the DR-CEL group (P ≤ 0·05).
Intestinal permeability
There was no difference in sucrose permeability or the lactulose:mannitol ratio between PRE and CEL or among ZN, ZD or DR animals (Table 3).
Table 3 Intestinal permeability*
(Mean values with their standard errors)
CEL, cellulose; PRE, prebiotic inulin; ZN, Zn normal control diet; ZD, Zn-deficient diet; DR, Zn normal control diet provided in restricted amounts.
* Results are expressed as fractional excretion (fraction of the orally administered dose recovered in the urine sample) or the ratio of fractional excretion (lactulose:mannitol). Data were analysed by two-way ANOVA, but there were no significant main effects.
Immune cell phenotyping
Spleen
Total cell numbers in the spleen were 17 % lower in PRE compared with CEL rats (Table 4). PRE rats had a 4 % higher proportion of TCRαβ+CD4+ cells in the spleen compared with CEL rats (74·0 (sem 0·8) and 71·3 (sem 0·9) % of cells, respectively; P = 0·02). PRE rats had 24 % fewer TCRαβ+CD8+ cell numbers compared with CEL rats and a 10 % lower proportion of TCRαβ+CD8+ cells (PRE: 22·4 (sem 0·8) % of cells, CEL: 25·0 (sem 0·8) % of cells; P = 0·02). TCRγδ+ cell numbers were 22 % lower in the spleen of PRE rats compared with those of CEL rats. ZD and DR rats had a 7 % lower proportion of CD45RA+ cells in the spleen compared with ZN rats (54·5 (sem 1·4), 54·3 (sem 1·1) and 58·4 (sem 0·9) % of cells, respectively; P = 0·02). There were no differences in TCRαβ+, TCRγδ+CD4+, TCRγδ+CD8+, or OX62+TCRγδ− cell numbers or proportions of these cells in the spleen between PRE and CEL or among ZN, ZD or DR rats.
Table 4 Immune cells in the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyer's patches*
(Mean values with their standard errors)
CEL, cellulose; PRE, prebiotic inulin; ZN, Zn normal control diet; ZD, Zn-deficient diet; DR, Zn normal control diet provided in restricted amounts.
a,b,c For the diet effect, mean values within a row with unlike superscript letters were significantly different (P ≤ 0·05).
* Data are shown for total cells or subpopulations of immune cells when there was a significant main effect of fibre and/or diet. Cell numbers are expressed × 104. Total cells are per total tissue collected (spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes or Peyer's patches). TCRαβ+, TCRγδ+ and CD45RA+ cells are the number of respective cells in each tissue. TCRαβ+CD4+ and TCRαβ+CD8+ cells are the number of the respective subsets calculated from the total number of TCRαβ+ cells. Similarly, TCRγδ+CD8+ cells are calculated from the total number of TCRγδ+ cells.
Mesenteric lymph nodes
Total cell numbers in the MLN were 16 % lower in PRE compared with CEL rats, and numbers in ZD rats were 29 and 59 % lower compared with ZN and DR rats, respectively (Table 4). TCRαβ+CD8+ cell numbers were 15 % lower in the MLN of PRE rats compared with CEL rats. PRE rats had 22 % fewer CD45RA+ cell numbers compared with CEL rats and an 8 % lower proportion of CD45RA+ cells (PRE: 32·9 (sem 0·9) % of cells; CEL: 35·8 (sem 1·0) % of cells; P = 0·03). TCRαβ+, TCRαβ+CD4+ and TCRγδ+ cell numbers in ZD rats were about 30 % and about 50 % lower compared with ZN and DR rats, respectively. TCRαβ+CD8+ and TCRγδ+CD8+ cell numbers in ZD rats were about 50 % lower compared with both ZN and DR rats. DR rats had about 36 % higher CD45RA+ cell numbers compared with ZN and ZD rats. There were no differences in TCRγδ+CD4+ or OX62+TCRγδ− cell numbers or proportions of these cells in the MLN between PRE and CEL rats or among ZN, ZD or DR rats.
Peyer's patches
Total cell numbers in the PP had a significant fibre × diet interaction (P = 0·01); however, contrast statements did not reveal any significant differences among study groups (Table 5). There was another significant fibre × diet interaction in the PP, such that TCRγδ+ cell numbers were 53 % higher in ZD-PRE rats compared with ZD-CEL rats. The proportion of TCRαβ+CD8 cells was 10 % lower in PP of PRE rats compared with CEL rats (14·1 (sem 0·5) and 16·2 (sem 0·6) % of cells, respectively; P = 0·005). PRE rats had a 50 % higher OX62+TCRγδ− cell number and a 31 % higher proportion of OX62+TCRγδ− cells in the PP compared with CEL rats (Fig. 3). The proportion of TCRαβ+ cells was 15 % higher in DR animals compared with ZN and ZD animals (17·5 (sem 0·9), 14·9 (sem 0·6) and 15·1 (sem 0·9) % of cells, respectively; P = 0·04). DR rats had a 10 % higher proportion of TCRαβ+CD8+ cells compared with ZN and ZD rats (16·6 (sem 0·7), 14·5 (sem 0·8) and 14·3 (sem 0·6) % of cells, respectively; P = 0·02). The proportion of CD45RA+ cells was 4 % higher in both ZN and ZD rats compared with DR rats (77·4 (sem 1·0), 77·9 (sem 0·9) and 74·6 (sem 1·0) % of cells, respectively; P = 0·04). There were no differences in TCRαβ+CD4+, TCRγδ+CD4+ or TCRγδ+CD8+ cell numbers or proportion of these cells in the PP between PRE and CEL rats or among ZN, ZD or DR rats (data not shown).
Table 5 Immune cells in Peyer's patches*
(Mean values with their standard errors)
ZN-CEL, Zn normal cellulose; ZD-CEL, Zn-deficient cellulose; DR-CEL, diet-restricted cellulose; ZN-PRE, Zn normal prebiotic inulin; ZD-PRE, Zn-deficient prebiotic inulin; DR-PRE, diet-restricted prebiotic inulin.
* Since there was a significant interaction by two-way ANOVA, individual groups are shown. Although there was a significant fibre × diet interaction for total cells, contrast statements did not reveal any significant differences among means for the six study groups. Total cells and TCRγδ+ cells are per total tissue collected.
† Mean value was significantly different from that of the ZD-CEL group (P ≤ 0·05).
Fig. 3 Dendritic cells in Peyer's patches. (A) Proportion of dendritic cells (OX62+TCRγδ− as a percentage of total cells). CEL, cellulose; PRE, prebiotic inulin; ZN, Zn normal control diet; ZD, Zn-deficient diet; DR, Zn normal control diet provided in restricted amounts. Values are means, with standard errors represented by vertical bars. For details of groups and analysis, see Table 2. * There was a significant main effect of fibre (P = 0·01). (B) Dendritic cell numbers (OX62+TCRγδ− cells × 104). * There was a significant main effect of fibre (P = 0·0001). There were no significant main effects for diet or for fibre × diet interaction.
Cytokines
Concanavalin A-stimulated ex vivo secretion of IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-γ in both the spleen and MLN was 40–70 % higher in PRE rats compared with CEL rats (Fig. 4). Neither ZD nor DR had an effect on cytokine secretion in the spleen or MLN.
Fig. 4 Ex-vivo cytokine secretion of immune cells from the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN). (A) IL-2 secretion from spleen cells, (B) IL-2 secretion from MLN cells, (C) interferon (IFN)-γ secretion from spleen cells, (D) IFN-γ secretion from MLN cells, (E) IL-10 secretion from spleen cells, (F) IL-10 secretion from MLN cells. CEL, cellulose; PRE, prebiotic inulin; ZN, Zn normal control diet; ZD, Zn-deficient diet; DR, Zn normal control diet provided in restricted amounts. Values are means, with standard errors represented by vertical bars. For details of groups and analysis, see Table 2. * There were significant main effects for fibre: IL-2 from spleen (P = 0·006); IL-2 from MLN (P < 0·0001); IFN-γ from spleen (P = 0·008); IFN-γ from MLN (P = 0·005); IL-10 from spleen (P = 0·01); IL-10 from MLN (P < 0·0001). There were no significant main effects for diet or fibre × diet interaction.
IgG1 and IgG2a
There was no difference in serum IgG1 or IgG2a between PRE and CEL rats. There was no difference in serum IgG1 among ZD, ZN or DR animals (Fig. 5 (A)). Serum IgG2a of ZD rats was about 35 % lower than both ZN and DR rats (Fig. 5 (B)).
Fig. 5 Serum IgG1 (A) and IgG2a (B) concentrations. CEL, cellulose; PRE, prebiotic inulin; ZN, Zn normal control diet; ZD, Zn-deficient diet; DR, Zn normal control diet provided in restricted amounts. Values are means, with standard errors represented by vertical bars. For details of groups and analysis, see Table 2. For serum IgG2a there was a significant main effect for diet (P = 0·002). a,b Mean values with unlike letters were significantly different (P ≤ 0·05). There were no significant main effects for fibre or fibre × diet interaction.
Discussion
This is the first study to show that inulin can increase the proportion and number of dendritic cells (OX62+TCRγδ− ) in the PP. It has previously been shown that the percentage of IL-10 positive dendritic cells is increased in the lamina propria following oral consumption of FOS in patients with moderately active Crohn's disease(Reference Lindsay, Whelan and Stagg7). An increase in the numbers of dendritic cells has been associated with increased immunological tolerance(Reference Viney, Mowat and O'Malley37), which is the immune unresponsiveness to dietary antigens and indigenous bacterial antigens(Reference Makala, Nishikawa and Suzuki38). Prebiotics may increase dendritic cells indirectly through the modulation of indigenous bacteria. For instance, Smits et al. (Reference Smits, Engering and van der Kleij39) have demonstrated that the probiotics Lactobacillus reuteri and L. casei were able to prime dendritic cells to promote the development of regulatory T cells, which mediate tolerance by inhibiting the proliferation and cytokine production of effector T cells. Further research is required to determine if prebiotics can alter the function of dendritic cells.
Most prebiotic studies are 4–6 weeks long(Reference Roller, Rehkemmer and Watzl3, Reference Manhart, Spittler and Bergmeister5, Reference Kelly-Quagliana, Nelson and Buddington40), which may not be long enough to affect systemic immunity; however, the present 8-week study with long-chain inulin (Beneo™HP; average degree of polymerisation >23) was sufficient to alter the proportion and number of immune cells in the spleen and gut. The changes in the proportion of T and B cells between CEL and PRE rats were small, but statistically significant. Other studies found no difference in the proportion of T and B cells in the spleen or MLN of mice fed 10 % oligofructose or inulin for 6 weeks compared with 10 % cellulose(Reference Kelly-Quagliana, Nelson and Buddington40), or rats supplemented with a combination of inulin and oligofructose (Synergy1) for 4 weeks(Reference Roller, Rehkemmer and Watzl3). Manhart et al. (Reference Manhart, Spittler and Bergmeister5) found that both healthy and endotoxaemic female mice supplemented with 10 % FOS for 16 d had an increased proportion of B cells in PP, while T cells were only increased in the PP of endotoxaemic mice fed the FOS diet.
Interestingly, there was a fibre × diet interaction in the PP, such that ZD-PRE rats had 53 % higher TCRγδ+ cell numbers compared with ZD-CEL rats, which may indicate a protective function of inulin during Zn deficiency. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effects of prebiotic and Zn deficiency on TCRγδ+ cells in the gut. Splenic TCRγδ+ cells were unaltered by Zn deficiency in agreement with Hosea et al. (Reference Hosea, Rector and Taylor41). T cells expressing the γδ TCR are a minor T-cell population in the circulation and lymphoid organs, but they represent a major subset within the epithelia of intestine and skin. The functions of γδ T cells are not well understood, but they seem to play a key role in oral tolerance and have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities(Reference Holtmeier and Kabelitz42). In murine models, intestinal γδ intra-epithelial lymphocytes have been shown to play a protective role in disease conditions associated with tissue damage, such as inflammatory bowel disease(Reference Holtmeier and Kabelitz42).
In the present study, PRE rats had greater ex vivo secretion of cytokines (IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-γ) in the spleen and MLN. Prebiotic studies with an experimental period of 4–6 weeks have found that shorter-chain prebiotics, such as FOS, or a combination of long- and short-chain prebiotics (Synergy1) increased ex vivo secretion of IL-10 and IFN-γ in the PP, but had fewer effects in the spleen or MLN of rats(Reference Roller, Rehkemmer and Watzl3, Reference Manhart, Spittler and Bergmeister5, Reference Hosono, Ozawa and Kato6). In a long-term study, Roller et al. (Reference Roller, Pietro Femia and Caderni4) found that rats fed Synergy1 for 33 weeks had increased ex vivo secretion of IL-10 in both PP and MLN, but no effects in the spleen.
There are three potential mechanisms through which prebiotics may affect the immune system. First, prebiotics stimulate the proliferation of beneficial bacteria, including Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus (Reference Kolida, Tuohy and Gibson43), which can interact with the host. Cells of the innate immune system, including dendritic cells, express toll-like receptors, which recognise specific pathogen-associated molecular patterns, including bacterial DNA. Toll-like receptor signalling can trigger signal transduction cascades, such as the NF-κB system, resulting in the secretion of cytokines(Reference Lee, Mo and Katakura44). Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus have also been shown to increase the proportion of CD4+T cells in the spleen(Reference Pestka, Ha and Warner45) and the gut(Reference Perdigon, Vintini and Alvarez46). Second, bacteria in the large intestine can completely degrade prebiotics to yield SCFA, including butyrate, acetate and propionate(Reference Bornet, Brouns and Tashiro47). Butyrate has been shown to increase ex vivo secretion of IL-10, while inhibiting IL-2 and IFN-γ(Reference Cavaglieri, Nishiyama and Fernandes48–Reference Säemann, Böhmig and Osterreicher50), while acetate and propionate have been shown to increase ex vivo secretion of IFN-γ(Reference Cavaglieri, Nishiyama and Fernandes48). In addition, butyrate has been shown to inhibit T cell activation and B cell function(Reference Novogrodsky, Rubin and Stenzel51–Reference Eftimiadi, Valente and Mangiante54). SCFA also support the epithelial cell mass(Reference Sakata, Kritchevsky and Bonfield55), which may be reflected by the increase in length and weight of the small intestine as observed in the present study and others(Reference Tokunaga, Oku and Hosoya56, Reference Ohta, Yasuko and Ohtsuki57). The third mechanism may involve the interaction of prebiotics with carbohydrate receptors on immune cells. For instance, a β-glucan dectin-1 receptor has been identified on neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages(Reference Brown and Gordon58, Reference Herre, Gordon and Brown59). It is presently unknown if fructose receptors exist on immune cells(Reference Watzl, Girrbach and Roller60).
Prebiotics and their metabolites may play a role in increasing intestinal Zn absorption(Reference Coudray, Feillet-Coudray and Gueux61) and potentially improving Zn status as assessed by femur Zn concentrations. Interestingly, inulin helped to conserve femur Zn concentrations during diet restriction, when dietary Zn was available despite reduced energy intake, but not during dietary Zn deficiency when availability of Zn was severely limited. However, bone Zn concentrations were not altered by inulin consumption in healthy ad libitum-fed rats with adequate dietary Zn intake (present study and Coudray et al. (Reference Coudray, Feillet-Coudray and Gueux61)). Raschka & Daniel(Reference Raschka and Daniel13) found that femur Zn was increased by 8 % in male adolescent rats provided with a mixture of short- and long-chain prebiotics for 15 d, suggesting that shorter-chain prebiotics may be effective for increasing Zn absorption.
ZD rats had about a 35 % drop in serum IgG2a, which has previously been demonstrated in mice(Reference Beach, Gershwin and Hurley62). The IgG2a subclass reflects a Th1 immune response and since Zn deficiency is known to inhibit type 1 responses(Reference Prasad63), the present results appear logical. Very little is known about the impact of Zn deficiency and diet restriction on mucosal immunity. Interestingly, diet restriction altered the proportion of immune cells in the PP; DR rats had a 10–15 % higher proportion of TCRαβ+ and TCRαβ+CD8+ cells, and a 4 % lower proportion of CD45RA+ cells in the PP compared with both ZN and ZD rats. In the MLN, ZD rats had lower T cell numbers (TCRαβ+, TCRαβ+CD4+, TCRαβ+CD8+, TCRγδ+, TCRγδ+CD8+) compared with ZN and DR rats. However, in the present study, Zn deficiency did not alter immune markers in the spleen. It appears that Zn deficiency in young adult female rats is not as detrimental to systemic immunity as compared with Zn deficiency in male weanling rats(Reference Hosea, Rector and Taylor64, Reference Hosea, Rector and Taylor65), which may be attributed to the degree of Zn deficiency. For instance, based on experiences in our laboratory with the same Zn-deficient diet and experimental conditions, femur Zn concentrations were about 70 % lower in weanling male rats(Reference Hosea, Rector and Taylor41, Reference Szczurek, Bjornsson and Taylor66, Reference Hosea, Rector and Taylor67) compared with 35 % lower in older female rats (present study), even though serum Zn was reduced by about 80 % in all studies.
We postulated that prebiotic ingestion may help normalise the gastrointestinal barrier dysfunction in Zn-deficient rats; however, gut permeability was not altered by Zn deficiency or prebiotic intake in young adult female rats. Zn deficiency has been previously shown to alter intestinal morphology(Reference Elmes and Jones21, Reference Mengheri, Nobili and Vignolini22), while having no effect on epithelial tight junctions(Reference Moran and Lewis68) in otherwise healthy rats. On the other hand, Zn supplementation has been shown to improve gut permeability in malnutrition, diarrhoea and inflammatory bowel disease(Reference Sturniolo, Fries and Mazzon23, Reference Sturniolo, Di Leo and Ferronato24, Reference Roy, Behrens and Haiders69, Reference Rodriguez, Darmon and Chappuis70). The present study also demonstrated that long-chain inulin had no effect on gut permeability in healthy rats. Other studies have found an improvement in gut permeability in models of disease with the use of probiotics or symbiotics (mixture of prebiotic and probiotic bacteria) but not prebiotics(Reference Commane, Shortt and Silvi71–Reference Spindler-Vesel, Bengmark and Vovk74). In healthy rats, FOS has been shown to increase intestinal permeability, a marker of mucosal damage(Reference Ten Bruggencate, Bovee-Oudenhoven and Lettink-Wissink75); however, FOS did not alter intestinal permeability in healthy men(Reference Ten Bruggencate, Bovee-Oudenhoven and Lettink-Wissink76).
In summary, future research should investigate both systemic (blood, spleen) and gut (PP, MLN) levels of immunity as they may respond differently to dietary treatments. For instance, PRE elevated the proportion of TCRαβ+CD4+ cells in spleen and the ex vivo secretion of IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-γ from both spleen and MLN cells, while reducing the number and proportion of TCRαβ+CD8+ cells in both spleen and PP, and CD45RA+ cells in the MLN. Furthermore, ZD had no effect on immune cells in the spleen, while reducing T cell numbers in the MLN. The present study also found that ZD lowers TCRαβ+CD4+ and TCRγδ+ cell numbers in the gut and that inulin may counteract these effects of ZD. Since TCRγδ+ cells are found in abundance in the epithelia of the mucosa, future studies should analyse intra-epithelial lymphocytes. Last, the novel finding of an increased proportion and number of dendritic cells in the PP of inulin-fed rats indicates a need for further research on how prebiotics and their metabolites affect immune function possibly through intestinal dendritic cells.
Acknowledgements
We thank the staff of the University of Manitoba Animal Holding Facility, Sarah Cahill, Lisa Rigaux, Jennifer Zahradka, Jennifer Jamieson, Steve Wayne, Heather Hosea and Marie Claire Arrieta for their assistance. Funding was provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada and Canada-Manitoba Agri-Food Research and Development Initiative grants (C. G. T.) and a NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship (N. R. R.).
N. R. R. designed the study, analysed the data and wrote the manuscript. C. G. T provided guidance to N. R. R. and edited the manuscript. J. B. M. was responsible for the analysis and interpretation of samples collected for gut permeability.
All authors declare no conflicts of interest.
