Integrated Multi-Omics Analysis of Antarctic Krill Oil in Alleviating DSS-Induced Colitis and Modulating Gut Microbiota in Mice

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Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with elusive etiology and limited therapeutic options, accompanied by potential side effects. In this study, to investigate the therapeutic potential of Antarctic krill oil (AKO) in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse colitis model, animal experiments, molecular assays, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were conducted. Our results revealed that supplementation of AKO significantly alleviated colitis symptoms, such as weight loss, and inflammatory responses. Moreover, multi-omics analyses demonstrated that AKO inhibited the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, remodeled beneficial gut microbiota, and reshaped metabolite profiles associated with glycerolphospholipid metabolism. Remarkably, AKO alleviated DSS-induced colitis, accompanied by coordinated changes in the gut microbiota, metabolites, and transcriptome, which were associated with suppression of key inflammatory pathways. These findings present experimental evidence for the potential of AKO as a marine-based nutritional intervention for UC, and offer novel perspectives on microbiota-targeted therapies for inflammatory diseases.
Funding Information
  • Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (2026XT0203)
  • Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (2023TD52)
  • CARS (CARS-49)

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