Butyrate administration strengthens the intestinal epithelium and improves intestinal dysbiosis in a cholestasis fibrosis model

Aim Intestinal dysfunction in cirrhosis patients is linked to death by bacterial infections. Currently, there is no effective therapy for this complication. This study aims to evaluate butyrate, a novel postbiotic, on the intestinal inflammatory response, tight junction proteins and the microbiota in the cholestasis model. Methods and Results Wistar rats underwent 15 days of bile duct ligation (BDL). We administered butyrate at a concentration of 1%. The BDL group did not receive treatment. The results showed that butyrate could significantly reduce pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐17A, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α) in the ileum and colon while promoting IL‐10 expression in the colon. Moreover, it significantly promotes tight junction protein (cld‐1, occludin and ZO‐1) expression in the ileum. A similar effect was observed in the colon except for ZO‐1. Additionally, butyrate limited taxa diversity loss and promoted probiotic genera expansion such as Lachnospira, Prevotella and Lactobacillus. The increase in Turicibacter and Clostridiaceae distinguished the BDL group. Conclusions Butyrate is effective in regulating the inflammatory response, tight junction proteins and limits bacterial diversity loss. Significance and Impact of the Study This research reveals that butyrate could represent an interesting postbiotic metabolomic intervention for intestinal epithelium dysfunction in liver disease.