Abstract
Digestive bacterial microflora play a major rolein the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). Bacterialenzyme activities, especially β-D-galactosidase,are decreased in fecal extracts from CD patients. We hypothesized that an alteration of thecolonic flora might be responsible for this decrease.Indeed, we demonstrate that β-D-galactosidaseproduction in supernates of anaerobic cultures wassignificantly (P < 0.01) reduced in feces from patientswith active Crohn's disease (N = 7), when compared tohealthy controls (N = 8). Therefore using X-gal andselective media, we enumerated bacteria able to releaseβ-D-galactosidase in feces from patients with active (N = 16) orquiescent disease (N = 5) and healthy controls (N = 14).Bifidobacteria numbers were significantly reduced inpatients (P < 0.01 for active; P < 0.02 forquiescent disease) whereas Bacteroides and Lactobacilli countsremained unchanged. β-D-Galactosidase activity andBifidobacteria counts were significantly correlated (P< 0.03). Bifidobacteria are regarded as beneficial for the host. The reduction in Bifidobacteriais responsible for decreased β-D-galactosidaseactivity. Thus oral administration of prebiotics thatpromote their growth might have potential therapeutic interest.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Sartor RB: The role of normal enteric bacteria and bacterial products in chronic intestinal inflammation. In Inflammatory Bowel Disease. GNJ Tygtat, JFW Bartelsman, SJH van Deventer (eds). Dordrecht, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1995, pp 519–527
Gorbach SL, Nahas L, Plaut AG, Weinstein L, Patterson JF, Levitan R: Studies of intestinal microflora. Gastroenterology 54:575–587, 1968
West B, Lendrum R, Hill MJ, Walker G: Effects of sulfasalazine (Salazopyrin) on fecal flora in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Gut 15:960–965, 1974
Keighley MRB, Arabi Y, Dimock F, Burdon DW, Allan RN, Alexander-Williams J: Influence of inflammatory bowel disease on intestinal microflora. Gut 19:1099–1104, 1978
Krook A, Danielsson D, Kjellander J, Jarnerot G: The effect of metronidazole and sulfasalazine on the fecal flora in patients with Crohn's disease. Scand J Gastroenterol 16:183–192, 1981
Wensinck F, Custers-van Lieshout LMC, Poppelaars-Kustermans PAJ, Schröder AM: The fecal flora of patients with Crohn's disease. J Hyg Camb 87:1–12, 1981
Ruseler-van Embden JGH, Both Patoir HC: Anaerobic gramnegative fecal flora in patients with Crohn's disease and healthy subjects. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 49:125–132, 1983
Hudson MJ, Hill MJ, Elliot PR, Berghouse LM, Burnham WR, Lennard-Jones JE: The microbial flora of the rectal mucosa and feces of patients with Crohn's disease before and during antimicrobial chemotherapy. J Med Microbiol 18:335–345, 1984
Van de Merwe JP, Schröder AM, Wensinck F, Hazenberg MP: The obligate anaerobic fecal flora of patients with Crohn's disease and their first-degree relatives. Scand J Gastroenterol 23:1125–1131, 1988
Giaffer MH, Holdsworth CD, Duerden BI: The assessment of fecal flora in patients with inflammatory bowel disease by a simplified bacteriological technique. J Med Microbiol 35:238–243, 1991
Gilberts ECAM, Greenstein AJ, Katsel P, Harpaz N, Greenstein RJ: Molecular evidence for two forms of Crohn disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 91:12721–12724, 1994
Rhodes JM, Gallimore R, Elias E, Allan RN, Kennedy JF: Fecal mucus degrading glycosidases in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Gut 26:761–765, 1985
Leijonmarck CE, Bergstrand LO, Carlstedt-Duke B, Gustafsson A, Midtvedt AC, Norin KE, Saxerholt H, Midtvedt T: Total parenteral nutrition and the function of the intestinal microflora in Crohn's disease. Scand J Gastroenterol 23:59–64, 1988
Ruseler-van Embden JGH, van Lieshout LMC: Increased fecal glycosidases in patients with Crohn's disease. Digestion 37:43–50, 1987
El Yamani J, Mizon C, Capon C, Colombel JF, Fournet B, Cortot A, Mizon J: Decreased fecal exoglycosidase activities identify a subset of patients with active Crohn's disease. Clin Sci 83:409–415, 1992
Carrette O, Favier C, Mizon C, Neut C, Cortot A, Colombel JF, Mizon J: The bacterial enzymes used for colon-specific drug delivery are decreased in active Crohn's disease. Dig Dis Sci 40:2641–2646, 1995
Canva Delcambre V, Soenen V, Mizon C, Cortot A, Mizon J, Colombel JF: L'activite β-D-galactosidasique fecale est diminúee au cours de la maladie de Crohn. Gastroenterol Clin Biol 17:718–722, 1993
Best WR, Beckel JM, Singleton JW, Kern F Jr: Development of Crohn's disease activity index. Gastroenterology 70:439–444, 1976
Favier C, Neut C, Mizon C, Cortot A, Colombel JF, Mizon J: Research and identification of human fecal anaerobic bacteria producing β-D-galactosidase: A new methodology. J Microbiol Methods 27:25–31, 1996
Beerens H: An elective and selective isolation medium for Bifidobacterium spp. Lett Appl Microbiol 11:155–157, 1990
Livingston SJ, Kominos SD, Lee RB: New medium for selection and presumptive identification of the Bacteroides fragilis group. J Clin Microbiol 7:448–453, 1978
MacFarlane GT, Hay S, Gibson GR: Influence of mucin on glycosidase, protease and arylamidase activities of human gut bacteria grown in a 3-stage continuous culture system. J Appl Bacteriol 66:407–417, 1989
Ikeda N, Saito Y, Shimizu J, Ochi A, Mizutani J, Watabe J: Variations in concentrations of bacterial metabolites, enzyme activities, moisture, pH and bacterial composition between and within individuals in feces of seven healthy adults. J Appl Bacteriol 77:185–194, 1994
Gibson GR, Wang X: Regulatory effects of bifidobacteria on the growth of other colonic bacteria. J Appl Bacteriol 77:412–420, 1994
Gibson GR, Roberfroid MB: Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota: Introducing the concept of prebiotics. J Nutr 125:1401–1412, 1995
Liao W, Cui XS, Jin XY, Floŕen CH: Lactulose—a potential drug for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Med Hypoth 43:234–238, 1994
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Favier, C., Neut, C., Mizon, C. et al. Fecal β-D-Galactosidase Production and Bifidobacteria Are Decreased in Crohn's Disease. Dig Dis Sci 42, 817–822 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018876400528
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018876400528