{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Inulin-grown Faecalibacterium prausnitzii cross-feeds fructose to the human intestinal epithelium.
{Author}: Fagundes RR;Bourgonje AR;Saeed A;Vich Vila A;Plomp N;Blokzijl T;Sadaghian Sadabad M;von Martels JZH;van Leeuwen SS;Weersma RK;Dijkstra G;Harmsen HJM;Faber KN;
{Journal}: Gut Microbes
{Volume}: 13
{Issue}: 1
{Year}: Jan-Dec 2021
{Factor}: 9.434
{DOI}: 10.1080/19490976.2021.1993582
{Abstract}: Many chronic diseases are associated with decreased abundance of the gut commensal Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. This strict anaerobe can grow on dietary fibers, e.g., prebiotics, and produce high levels of butyrate, often associated to epithelial metabolism and health. However, little is known about other F. prausnitzii metabolites that may affect the colonic epithelium. Here, we analyzed prebiotic cross-feeding between F. prausnitzii and intestinal epithelial (Caco-2) cells in a "Human-oxygen Bacteria-anaerobic" coculture system. Inulin-grown F. prausnitzii enhanced Caco-2 viability and suppressed inflammation- and oxidative stress-marker expression. Inulin-grown F. prausnitzii produced excess butyrate and fructose, but only fructose efficiently promoted Caco-2 growth. Finally, fecal microbial taxonomy analysis (16S sequencing) from healthy volunteers (n = 255) showed the strongest positive correlation for F. prausnitzii abundance and stool fructose levels. We show that fructose, produced and accumulated in a fiber-rich colonic environment, supports colonic epithelium growth, while butyrate does not.