Maternal gut microbial legacy shapes intestinal health and susceptibility of offspring to colitis.

Abstract

Maternal gut dysbiosis caused by inflammatory bowel disease during pregnancy can affect the gut health of the offspring by altering the composition of the gut microbiota, as well as immune function; however, the underlying mechanisms and potential for therapeutic intervention remain unclear. This study investigated the impact of maternal colitis on the gut health of offspring, and assessed the therapeutic potential of microbial manipulation. Offspring born to mothers with colitis exhibited gut microbial dysbiosis characterized by Lactobacillus spp. depletion, impaired barrier function, low-grade intestinal inflammation, compromised Wnt signaling, reduced crypt cell proliferation and diminished organoid-forming capacity, all of which increased their susceptibility to colitis in adulthood. Notably, early-life interventions such as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), targeted supplementation with Lactobacillus and cross-fostering during the postnatal period effectively reshaped the gut microbiota and reduced the risk of developing colitis later in life. These findings underscore the critical impact of the prenatal maternal gut microbial community on programming offspring intestinal barrier function and immune homeostasis, thereby influencing lifelong disease susceptibility. Moreover, the early-postnatal period represents a crucial therapeutic window in which microbial interventions like FMT can effectively mitigate gut dysbiosis and confer long-term protection against colitis.