The influence of Akkermansia muciniphila on intestinal wound healing

Colorectal anastomotic leakage is a serious surgical complication, and the local microbiota is suggested to have a strong influence on anastomosis healing. As the existing murine anastomotic leakage models have major limitations to assess the consequences of local microbiota manipulation, we developed and described a novel intestinal wound healing model called the “Colonoscopic Leakage Model”. Using this model, our experiments demonstrate that A. muciniphila, a next-generation beneficial bacterium, improves wound healing after transmural colonic wall defect through mechanisms possibly involving IL22 signaling and requiring MyD88 in the intestinal cells. Results of a proof-of- concept pilot study, show that in healthy humans, colonic administration of A. muciniphila is well-tolerated and changes the expression of genes involved in the immune pathways.(BIFA - Sciences biomédicales et pharmaceutiques) -- UCL, 202