Cytokine production in vitro and in rat model of colitis in response to Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07.

Over the past decade, it has become clear that specific probiotic lactobacilli are valuable in the prevention and treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases of gastrointestinal tract but their successful application would benefit greatly from a better understanding of the mechanisms of individual strains. Hence, each probiotic strain should be characterized for their immune activity before being proposed for clinical applications. The aim of the study was to characterize the immunomodulatory activity of the strain Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum LS/07 in vitro using functional gut model and to study its anti-inflammatory potential in dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rats. We showed that L. plantarum LS/07 induced production of IL-10 in macrophages derived from blood monocytes as well as monocyte/macrophages cell line stimulated indirectly via enterocytes in vitro. In rat model of colitis, L. plantarum LS/07 attenuated the DSS-induced signs of inflammatory process in colon such as weight loss, diarrhoea, infiltration of inflammatory cells associated with decreased colon weight/length ratio, inhibited gut mucosa destruction and depletion of goblet cells. Moreover, the strain increased the concentration of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in mucosal tissue. In conclusion, the protective effects of L. plantarum LS/07 in the DSS-induced colitis model seem to be related to the stimulation of IL-10 and the restoration of goblet cells and indicate it as a good candidate to prevent and treat diseases associated with inflammation.

Preventive use of Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 and inulin to relieve symptoms of acute colitis.

The aim of presented study was to investigate the influence of Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 and inulin on the activity of ß-glucuronidase enzyme, and counts of coliform and lactobacilli in fresh caecal digesta, cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-8), and trancription nuclear factor kappa beta (NFκB) activities in colon tissue and blood samples of rats with dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) induced acute colitis. The rats were randomly divided into four groups - CG, AC, AC+PRE and AC+PRO. Colitis was induced using of 5% DSS in drinking water for 7d. DSS application increased activity of ß-glucuronidase (P < 0.001), increased counts of coliforms, and decreased lactobacilli counts (P < 0.05) in comparison to control group. Serum and tissue levels of IL-6 and IL-8 as well as tissue NFκB activities showed increased expression in acute colitis group. Inulin diet modified counts of microorganims and decreased ß-glucuronidase activity, suppressed NFκB activities (P < 0.001) and down regulate synthesis of IL-6 (P < 0.01) in serum and colon tissue and tissue IL-8 (P < 0.05). Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 decreased ß-glucuronidase activity (P < 0.05), levels of IL-6 and IL-8 (P < 0.001). These results were consistent with the addition of histological findings. Our results indicate that dietary intake of Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 and inulin suppressed expression observed markers, which play an important role in the inflammatory process, which predisposes their use in prevention or treatment of acute colitis.

Co-administration of a probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 CCM7766 with prebiotic inulin alleviates the intestinal inflammation in rats exposed to N,N-dimethylhydrazine.

The aim of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of preventive administration of a probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 CCM7766 alone or in combination with prebiotic inulin or with flax-seed oil in the gut of rats, which developed chronic inflammation following administration of the pro-carcinogen N,N-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). After 28weeks administration of probiotic/prebiotic-containing diet, rats were killed and their colons were examined by immunohistological criteria, whereas cytokines were determined in the jejunal mucosa. Application of DMH triggered the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α, expression of pro-inflammatory mediators NF-κB, COX-2 and iNOS and caused depletion of goblet cells. Supplementing the diet with L. plantarum and its combination with the prebiotic abolished DMH-induced inflammatory process in the jejunal mucosa by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and by stimulation of anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine synthesis, whereas concentration of TGF-ß1 was not influenced significantly. Diet prevented a decrease in goblet cell numbers but numbers of mast cells were lowered only moderately. However, combined treatment of rats with L. plantarum and flax-seed oil had no significant effect on the parameters examined, except for decreased expression of NF-κB, in comparison with the negative control. Results indicate that the preventive administration of probiotic L. plantarum LS/07 CCM7766 alone or in combination with prebiotic inulin to rats with DMH-induced chronic inflammation can reduce inflammatory process in the jejunal and colon mucosa, probably indirectly, and involves down-regulation of synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and suppression of NF-κB activity in mucosal cells.

The effects of two Lactobacillus plantarum strains on rat lipid metabolism receiving a high fat diet.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of the different probiotic strains, Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 and Lactobacillus plantarum Biocenol LP96, on lipid metabolism and body weight in rats fed a high fat diet. Compared with the high fat diet group, the results showed that Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 reduced serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, but Lactobacillus plantarum Biocenol LP96 decreased triglycerides and VLDL, while there was no change in the serum HDL level and liver lipids. Both probiotic strains lowered total bile acids in serum. Our strains have no significant change in body weight, gain weight, and body fat. These findings indicate that the effect of lactobacilli on lipid metabolism may differ among strains and that the Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 and Lactobacillus plantarum Biocenol LP96 can be used to improve lipid profile and can contribute to a healthier bowel microbial balance.