Progress in probiotics to prevent necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants / 国际儿科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants.The most important etiology in the pathogenesis of NEC is structural and immunological intestinal immaturity.Probiotic bacteria prevent or limits disease propagation in NEC.The unique characteristics of developing intestinal epithelia focusing on gut development and colonization as well as the inflammatory propensity of immature epithelia are highlighted in this paper.Additionally, potential mechanisms of beneficial probiotic interaction with immature intestinal epithelia including immunomodulation, upregulation of cytoprotective genes, prevention and regulation of apoptosis and maintenance of barrier function are reviewed.Probiotics may restore or supply essential bacterial strains needed for gut maturation and homeostasis.Oral administration of probiotics has been suggested as a promising strategy for prevention of NEC.