J Vet Sci.  2013 Dec;14(4):387-393. 10.4142/jvs.2013.14.4.387.

Chemopreventive and metabolic effects of inulin on colon cancer development

• Hijova E
• Szabadosova V
• Stofilova
• Hrckova G

• KMID: 1712304
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2013.14.4.387

Abstract

Prebiotics modulate microbial composition and ensure a healthy gastrointestinal tract environment that can prevent colon cancer development. These natural dietary compounds are therefore potential chemopreventive agents. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats (4 months old) were experimentally treated with procarcinogen dimethylhydrazine to induce colon cancer development. The rats were randomly assigned to three groups: a control group (CG), a group treated with dimethylhydrazine (DMH), and a group given DMH and inulin, a prebiotic (DMH+PRE). The effects of inulin on the activities of bacterial glycolytic enzymes, short-chain fatty acids, coliform and lactobacilli counts, cytokine levels, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and transcription nuclear factor kappa beta (NFkappaB) immunoreactivity were measured. Inulin significantly decreased coliform counts (p < 0.01), increased lactobacilli counts (p < 0.001), and decreased the activity of beta-glucuronidase (p < 0.01). Butyric and propionic concentrations were decreased in the DMH group. Inulin increased its concentration that had been reduced by DMH. Inulin decreased the numbers of COX-2- and NFkappaB-positive cells in the tunica mucosae and tela submucosae of the colon. The expression of IL-2, TNFalpha, and IL-10 was also diminished. This 28-week study showed that dietary intake of inulin prevents preneoplastic changes and inflammation that promote colon cancer development.

Keyword

chemoprevention; colon cancer; prebiotic; Sprague-Dawley rats

MeSH Terms

Animals
Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism
Colon/enzymology
Colonic Neoplasms/chemically induced/*drug therapy/metabolism
Colony Count, Microbial
Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics/metabolism
Cytokines/blood/genetics
Diet
Dietary Supplements/analysis
Dimethylhydrazines/toxicity
Enterobacteriaceae/drug effects/physiology
Fatty Acids, Volatile/genetics/metabolism
Female
Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects
Inulin/administration & dosage/*metabolism
Lactobacillaceae/drug effects/physiology
Male
NF-kappa B/genetics/metabolism
Prebiotics/*analysis
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Bacterial Proteins
Cytokines
Cyclooxygenase 2
Dimethylhydrazines
Fatty Acids, Volatile
Inulin
NF-kappa B
Prebiotics

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Serum and jejunal cytokines IL-2, IL-10 and TNF alpha in the CG group, DMH group and DMH+PRE group. Statistical significance is result of comparison between CG/DMH and DMH/DMH+PRE. *p < 0.05 and ***p < 0.001.

• 

  Fig. 2 Expression of the numbers of COX-2-positive cells in the tunica mucosae and tela submucosae of the colon, and total numbers of COX-2-positive cells in the colon. Statistical significance is result of comparison between CG/DMH and DMH/DMH+PRE. **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001.

• 

  Fig. 3 Expression of the numbers of NFκB-positive cells in the tunica mucosae and tela submucosae of the colon, and total numbers of COX-2-positive cells in the colon. Statistical significance is result of comparison between CG/DMH and DMH/DMH+PRE. *p < 0.05 ***p < 0.001.

• 

  Fig. 4 Histological section of colon tissue from a CG rat. H&E stain, ×400.

• 

  Fig. 5 Histological section of colon tissue from a DMH rat. H&E stain, ×400.

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