Xyloglucan protects the intestinal barrier and reduces bacterial translocation in experimental cirrhosis - A promising non-antibiotic strategy.

BACKGROUND

cirrhosis alters the intestinal barrier, increasing permeability and promoting bacterial translocation (BT). Norfloxacin (NF) is currently the only effective strategy to reduce BT, but the rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria highlights the need for new approaches.

AIMS: to evaluate the effect of xyloglucan, alone or with norfloxacin, on the intestinal barrier in cirrhotic rats with ascites.

METHODS

decompensated cirrhosis with ascites was induced in 32 rats using CCl4. Subsequently, xyloglucan (XG), NF, XG + NF (XG+NF), or water (control) were administered for one week. Parameters measured included BT incidence, endotoxemia, interferon gamma (IFN-), interleukin-23 (IL-23), plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein 1 (PV1)/CD34 ratio, occludin and liver histology.

RESULTS

BT incidence was lower in all treatment groups (XG, NF, XG+NF) compared to controls, and significantly lower in NF and XG+NF. Endotoxemia was reduced significantly in all treatment groups compared to controls, with values significantly correlating with BT incidence, occludin expression, IFN- levels, IL-23 levels, and PV1/CD34 ratio. There were no differences in IL-23 levels, but all treatment groups exhibited a decrease in IFN-, which was significant in the NF and XG+NF groups. All treatment groups showed significant increases in occludin levels and decreases in PV1/CD34 ratio compared to controls. All groups showed similar histological signs of cirrhosis.

CONCLUSIONS

xyloglucan reduces intestinal mucosal inflammation, improves mucosal integrity and vascular permeability, and reduces endotoxemia and BT incidence. Xyloglucan alone showed similar results to NF. However, combining xyloglucan with NF does not provide additional benefits. These findings support evaluating xyloglucan as a new therapeutic strategy to prevent infections in cirrhosis.