Effects of <i>Lutjanus erythropterus</i> Protein on Depression-like Behavior and Gut Microbiota in Stressed Juvenile Mice

Effects of <i>Lutjanus erythropterus</i> Protein on Depression-like Behavior and Gut Microbiota in Stressed Juvenile Mice

<i>Lutjanus erythropterus</i> protein (Lep) exhibits anti-inflammatory effects, but its antidepressant activity is unknown. This study used a 44-day chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model to determine whether Lep has a beneficial effect through the gut–brain axis in 3-week-old ma...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jinjin Luo, Chen Wang, Weichang Ye, Ruiyang He, Ling Huang, Zhijia Fang, Qi Deng, Mei Qiu, Lijun Sun, Ravi Gooneratne
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
adolescents
amino acid
depression
gut microbiota
<i>Lutjanus erythropterus</i> protein
short-chain fatty acids
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/2/330
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Summary:<i>Lutjanus erythropterus</i> protein (Lep) exhibits anti-inflammatory effects, but its antidepressant activity is unknown. This study used a 44-day chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model to determine whether Lep has a beneficial effect through the gut–brain axis in 3-week-old male C57BL/6 mice. Gavaging with Lep solution alleviated the depression-like behavior and anxiety symptoms in CUMS growing mice. Administration of Lep decreased serum IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α levels and restored colonic mucosal damage. In addition, Lep improved the disturbance of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) secretion in the gut–brain axis. Pearson analysis revealed that gut short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) concentration significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) correlated with mucosal damage scores and the depression-like behavior index. Lep was able to prevent the gut SCFA enrichment. Lep upregulated gut <i>Muribaculaceae</i> and downregulated SCFA-producing bacteria by replenishing deficient amino acid (AA) (tryptophan, alanine, aspartate, glutamate) and decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.01) the gene abundance of the AA metabolism pathway of SCFA-producing bacteria, thereby preventing gut SCFA enrichment and alleviating associated depression-like behavior. These findings indicate that Lep could attenuate depression in CUMS juvenile mice via the gut microbiota-SCFA–brain axis.
ISSN:2304-8158

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