Postbiotics, such as heat-killed probiotic bacteria, have gained attention for their potential health benefits, offering advantages over traditional probiotics in terms of safety, production, and storage. In this study, researchers investigated the therapeutic effects of the postbiotic, Heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L137 (HK L-137) in healthy mice and an acute colitis mouse model, aiming to evaluate its impact on gut microbiota, intestinal barrier integrity, and inflammatory response.
Methods: Healthy mice and mice with acute colitis were treated with HK L-137. Various parameters, including gut microbiota composition, intestinal barrier integrity markers (ZO-1), and cytokine levels (TNF-ฮฑ, IL-6, IL-10), were evaluated. Immunomodulatory effects were assessed by analyzing splenocyte responses to stimulation.
Key Scientific Findings:
- Modulation of Gut Microbiota:
- Treatment with HK L-137 increased the abundance of Lactobacillus species in both healthy and colitis mice.
- In colitis mice, HK L-137 ameliorated dysbiotic reductions in Firmicutes abundance and imbalance of the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio, suggesting its potential to restore microbiota homeostasis in inflammatory conditions.
2 Enhancement of Intestinal Barrier Integrity:
- HK L-137 treatment improved intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating the expression of tight junction protein ZO-1 in both healthy and colitis mice.
- Previous studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of Lactobacillus species on gut barrier integrity, supporting the observed effects of HK L-137.
3. Immunomodulatory Effects:
- HK L-137 exhibited immunoregulatory effects by modulating cytokine levels in both normal and colitis mice.
- Reduced levels of circulatory TNF-ฮฑ and IL-10 were observed in normal mice after HK L-137 treatment, indicating its potential to mitigate inflammatory responses.
- In colitis mice, HK L-137 downregulated IL-6 levels in colons and plasma, suggesting its anti-inflammatory activity.
- Splenocytes isolated from HK L-137-treated mice exhibited conditional bi-directional immune activation, supporting the notion of immune balance modulation by ๐๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ช๐ญ๐ญ๐ถ๐ด species.
4. Therapeutic Effects in Colitis:
- HK L-137 treatment ameliorated disease-associated changes in colitis mice, including reduced disease activity index (DAI), colon shortening, and improved intestinal histology.
- The observed anti-inflammatory effects of HK L-137, including downregulation of IL-6 levels, suggest its potential therapeutic utility in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
The study demonstrated the beneficial effects of the postbiotic HK L-137 in modulating gut microbiota, enhancing intestinal barrier integrity, and exerting immunomodulatory effects in both healthy and colitis mice. The observed therapeutic effects of HK L-137 in the colitis model highlight its potential for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
Link to the article : https://tinyurl.com/486zszbk
