Dietary prevention of colitis by aronia berry is mediated through increased Th17 and Treg

Scope: Increased fruit consumption is associated with reduced risk of colitis. It has been investigated whether the anti-colitic effects of the polyphenol-rich aronia berry are mediated through Th17 and Treg.

Methods and results: Colitis is induced in recombinase activating gene-1 deficient mice. Mice consume either 4.5% w/w aronia-berry-supplemented or a control diet. Aronia consumption prevents colitic wasting and reduces colon weight/length ratios. Aronia feeding also increases Treg in mesenteric lymph node and regulatory Th17 subpopulations.

Conclusions: Aronia berry consumption inhibits adoptive transfer colitis by increasing Treg and regulatory Th17 cells. Dietary modulation of T cells is dynamic and precedes colitic wasting.