A novel Bacillus megaterium/ω-3 PUFA synbiotic attenuates colon inflammation and promotes a pro-resolving macrophage profile ex-vivo

Introduction Nutritional supplementation with ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has shown potential benefits in inflammatory bowel disease, although clinical responses remain inconsistent. This may be partly due to the limited conversion of ω-3 PUFAs into specialized pro-resolving mediators under physiological conditions. Methods We investigated whether fermentation of ω-3 PUFA lysine salt with Bacillus megaterium DSM 32963 enhanced its anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving activity. The resulting formulation was evaluated in ex vivo colon biopsies obtained from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and healthy subjects. Inflammatory cytokine expression and macrophage-associated markers were assessed using qPCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Results The B. megaterium/ω-3 PUFA formulation modulated the inflammatory response in ulcerative colitis biopsies, reducing the expression of selected pro-inflammatory cytokines and promoting a macrophage profile associated with resolution of inflammation. Discussion These findings provide preliminary evidence that microbial conversion of ω-3 PUFAs can enhance their pro-resolving activity in human colonic tissue. This synbiotic approach may represent a promising nutritional adjunct for ulcerative colitis, although further in vivo and clinical investigations are required.