LAUSR

BACKGROUND The gut microbiota (GM) is recognized as a significant contributor to the immune system. In the present study, the effects of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides (HEPs) on immunoregulation and GM in cyclophosphamide (CTX)-treated mice were investigated to elucidate whether the attenuate of immunosuppression by modulating GM. RESULTS The results revealed that HEPs significantly improved the body weight and immune organ index in immunodeficient mice (P < 0.05). HEPs significantly increased OTU (P < 0.05), adjusted α and β diversity of the GM, and the bacterial community structure was more similar to that of control group. Taxonomic composition analysis found that HEPs increased the abundance of Alistipse, uncultured_bacterium_f_Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, uncultured_bacterium_f_Lachnospiracea, uncultured_bacterium_f_Ruminococcaceae and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 and decreased Lactobacillus, Bacteroides and Alloprevotella, suggesting that HEPs can improve the GM structure and inhibit CTX-induced GM dysregulation. Moreover, HEPs increased short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, recovered SCFA levels, alleviated immunosuppression caused by CTX, enhanced the serum immune cytokine factors, and upregulated TLR4/NF-κB pathway key proteins (TLR4, NF-κB p65) at mRNA and protein levels. CONCLUSION HEPs have effective regulation on GM and enhancement of intestinal immune function, so they have the potential to be developed as functional ingredients or foods to modulate the immune responses. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.