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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.01.15.699743

Inflammation is the Driver of Butyrate-Producing Bacteria Change in Interleukin10 Knockout Mice

Kim, J. Y.·Park, B.·Riffey, O. F.·Bunch, M. L.·Johnson, J. G.·Burcham, Z. M.·Donohoe, D. R.
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Abstract

BackgroundAlterations of gut microbiota have been implicated in the development of inflammatory bowel disease. Specifically, patients with IBD show the reduced levels of gut bacteria to produce butyrate, a crucial metabolite for maintaining gut homeostasis, along with decreased levels of fecal butyrate. However, there is limited research on changes in butyrate-producing bacteria at various taxonomic levels during the development of inflammatory bowel disease. ResultsWe investigated the changes of butyrate-producing bacteria in interleukin10 knockout mice, a suitable IBD model, as these mice require gut microbiota to develop spontaneous chronic colitis. Our findings indicate increased inflammation and a metabolic shift from butyrate oxidation toward glycolysis in 9-week-old interleukin10 knockout mice. Furthermore, we observed significant changes in two terminal enzymes involved in butyrate production: a significant increase of butyrate kinase and a significant decrease of butyryl-CoA:acetate-CoA-transferase. These observations align with an increased abundance of Coprococcus comes, which utilizes butyrate kinase, and a decreased abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii that utilizes butyryl-CoA:acetate-CoA-transferase. Moreover, reduced levels of acetate, a necessary co-substrate for butyryl-CoA:acetate-CoA-transferase activity, were observed in interleukin10 knockout mice. ConclusionsThese findings enhance our understanding of changes in butyrate-producing bacteria populations at various taxonomic levels, ranging from phylum to gene level in 9-week-old interleukin10 knockout mice. Furthermore, these data suggest a potential for diagnosing IBD at an early stage by analyzing the composition of butyrate-producing bacteria.

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Kim, J. Y., Park, B., Riffey, O. F., Bunch, M. L., Johnson, J. G., Burcham, Z. M., Donohoe, D. R.. 2026-01-16. Inflammation is the Driver of Butyrate-Producing Bacteria Change in Interleukin10 Knockout Mice. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.15.699743

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