[Protective effects of sucralfate on gastric mucosal injury induced by Helicobacter pylori and its effects on gastrointestinal flora in mice].

Objective

To investigate the effects of sucralfate suspension gel (SC) on Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) colonization, H.pylori-induced gastric mucosal injury and gastrointestinal microecology in mice.

Methods

C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, including normal control (NC) group, H.pylori model (HP) group, and SC prevention (HP+SC) group. H.pylori infection mouse model was established by gavage with H.pylori Sydney strain (SS1). And HP+SC group was also administered with SC for 14 days. After mice were sacrificed, the gastric mucosa was taken for HE staining, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining [H.pylori, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), Occludin, interleukin (IL)-8, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)], qPCR (IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α) . And cell ultrastructure was observed by electron microscopy. Microbiota communities in the gastric mucosa or fecal were investigated using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. The detection of H.pylori in IHC staining or Giemsa staining was defined as H.pylori infection.

Results

The H.pylori positive rate of HP group was 91.67%, and that of HP+SC group was 50.00%. The EDS of HP group were significantly higher than those of the NC group [(3.42±0.19) vs (1.17±0.17), P<0.05], while EDS of HP+SC group (2.42±0.29) were significantly lower than that of HP group (P<0.05). The mRNA levels and immunostaining scores of IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α in HP group was higher than NC group (all P<0.05). Compared with HP group, mRNA levels and IHC scores of IL-8 significantly decreased (all P<0.05) in HP+SC group, while those of IL-10 and TNF-α was similar between two groups (all P>0.05). The IHC scores of ZO-1 and Occludin in HP group was significantly lower than NC group (all P<0.05), and that of ZO-1 and Occludin in the HP+SC group increased compared with HP group [(2.00±0.26) vs (1.17±0.48), P>0.05; (3.50±0.43) vs (2.33±0.21), P<0.05]. Compared with NC group, the diversity of gastric microbiota in HP group was significantly lower, and diversity of gut microbiota decreased insignificantly. There was no significant difference between HP+SC group and HP group in gastric or gut microbiota.

Conclusion

SC reduces H.pylori colonization, protects H.pylori-induced gastric mucosal injury, decreases H.pylori-induced IL-8 expression, enhances Occludin. However, its effects on H.pylori-induced gastrointestinal microbiota disorders are limited.