Pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila improves immunity and relieves other toxic effects in 5-fluorouracil treated BALB/c mice

This study explored how pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila mitigates the immunosuppressive and toxic effects of the chemotherapy drug 5-FU in mice. Pasteurized A. muciniphila raised the index of immune organs, helped restore hematopoietic functions, and greatly increased the ability of both T and B lymphocytes to multiply. This process also resulted in an increase in the percentages of CD3+ T lymphocytes as well as in the ratios of CD4+ to CD8+ T cells. Pasteurized A. muciniphila enhances serum immunoglobulin secretion. Additionally, it increased the liver's antioxidant capacity, decreased ALT and AST levels, and mitigated chemotherapy-related liver damage. Pasteurized A. muciniphila regulates intestinal mucosal immunity by influencing the gut microbiota structure. It restored small intestinal villi and crypt structures, increased intestinal sIgA levels, and increased the number of CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes, thus effectively rectifying intestinal mucosal immune dysfunctions. In conclusion, pasteurized A. muciniphila significantly improved the immunosuppressive and other toxic effects induced by 5-FU in mice. These findings indicate that pasteurized A. muciniphila has the potential to be developed as a dietary strategy to reduce chemotherapy-induced toxicity.