Figures & data
Figure 1. Bile acid signatures in jejunum, cecum, and colon of germ-free (GF) and monocolonized (MC) mice. (A) PCA score plot of bile acid signatures in jejunum, cecum and colon of GF and MC mice. (B) PCA score plot of bile acid signatures in cecum and colon of GF and MC mice. (C) Total relative intensity measurements of bile acids based on conjugation state in jejunum, cecum, and colon of GF and MC mice. (D) Intensity values for the measured bile acids in jejunum, cecum, and colon of GF and MC mice. The color of the bar refers to the conjugation state of the bile acid; unconjugated bile acids (red), taurine-conjugated bile acids (yellow), and glycine-conjugated bile acids (blue). Values are mean intensities ± SEM measured using LC-MS in negative ionization mode. Mann-Whitney t test vs. GF, * (P < 0.05), ** (P < 0.01). nd; not detected, CA, cholic acid; TCA, taurocholic acid; TβMCA, tauro-β-muricholic acid; TCDCA, taurochenodeoxycholic acid; TDCA, taurodeoxycholic acid; GCA, glycocholic acid. See also Table S1.
Figure 2. Intensity values for five measured saccharides in germ-free (GF) and monocolonized (MC) mice in (A) jejunum, (B) cecum, and (C) colon. Values are mean intensities ± SEM measured using LC-MS in positive ionization mode. Stars indicate significant differences; * (P < 0.05), ** (P < 0.01), *** (P < 0.001).
Figure 3. Intensity values for the measured (A) α-tocopherol acetate, (B) α-tocopherol, and (C) α-tocopherolquinone in jejunum, cecum, and colon of germ-free (GF) and monocolonized (MC) mice. Values are mean intensities ± SEM measured by LC-MS in positive ionization mode. Stars indicate significant differences; * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001. nd, not detected.
Figure 4. Proposed mechanism for Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM (NCFM) mediated absorption of vitamin E (α-tocopherol). NCFM unconjugates taurocholic acid to cholic acid. Because cholic acid is an effective activator of the bile acid dependent pancreatic carboxyl ester hydrolase, this increases the activity of this enzyme, which results in an increased conversion of α-tocopherol acetate into α-tocopherol, which is the form of vitamin E that can be taken up by enterocytes through micelles. GF, germ-free; MC, monocolonized; nd, not detected.
