Oyster polysaccharides ameliorate intestinal mucositis and improve metabolism in 5-fluorouracil-treated S180 tumour-bearing mice

The purpose of this study was to investigated the potential role of gut microbiota in protecting the intestinal barrier and improving nutritional metabolism in 5-FU-treated S180 tumour-bearing mice after treatment with oyster polysaccharide (CHP). CHP, with an alpha-(1 -> 4) D-linked glucose backbone and (-> 4,6)-alpha-D-Glc-(1 ->) branches every 4.7 residues on average, increased the villus height, crypt depth, mucosa thickness, villus surface area and V/C ratio; decreased the expression of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha; and even restored the TP, ALB, PA, TRF, IgA, IgM and IgG levels to normal levels. All these factors are related to CHP increasing the propionic acidand butyric acid-producing microorganisms and decreasing the production of Bacteroides, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, thus affecting the TLRs signalling pathway. In conclusion, CHP attenuates 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis and malnutrition by regulating gut microbiota, and can improve the prognosis of patients receiving chemotherapy.