Ascorbic acid deficiency induces hepatic and intestinal expression of inflammation-related genes irrespective of the presence or absence of gut microbiota in ODS rats.

We have previously demonstrated that ascorbic acid (AsA) deficiency causes inflammatory changes in the liver and intestine in Osteogenic Disorder Shionogi (ODS) rats, which are unable to synthesize AsA. We have suggested that AsA deficiency increased intestinal interleukine (IL)-6 production, stimulating hepatic acute phase proteins (APPs) expression via the portal vein. In this study, we determined whether these hepatic and intestinal inflammatory changes by AsA deficiency are induced in germ-free (GF) ODS rats.