Alliin alters gut microbiota and gene expression of colonic epithelial tissues

Alliin is a natural organosulfur-containing phytochemical in garlic. It is possible that alliin can regulate the gut microbiota for its strong antimicrobial activity against many pathogens. Here, we assessed whether alliin impacts the distal small intestinal bacteria, hence the cecal microbiota, thus altering the gene expression of colonic epithelial tissues (CETs). Eighty mg/kg alliin was orally administered to rats for 14 days, and the 16S rDNA from small intestinal and cecal microbiota as well as mRNA from CETs were sequenced and analyzed. The results showed that alliin consumption affected microbiota composition in both the small intestine and cecum, although there was only one specific genus, Allobaculum that was significantly altered in the rat cecum. The altered composition of microbiota indirectly impacted 174 genes in the CETs. Specifically, five genes, including RT1-Ba, RT1-Bb, Cd80, Madcam1, and Aicda, indicated this consumption related to the intestinal immune network for IgA production. Practical applications We firstly reported alliin consumption in vivo potentially affected the intestinal immunity of healthy rats by slightly alteration of microbiota composition in small intestine and cecum. The alteration subsequently amplified, resulting in the change of the colonic epithelial expression of several genes related to the intestinal immune network for IgA production. Hence, we suggested the alliin consumption may potentially affect the immune system of healthy individuals by alteration of gut microbiota and epithelial gene expression.