Heat-Killed Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 Inhibits Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-Induced Cardiomyopathy in NZB/W F1 Mice

Rhodiola and Salidroside Attenuate Oxidative Stress-Triggered H9c2 Cardiomyoblast Apoptosis Through IGF1R-Induced ERK1/2 Activation

Oxidative stress is a pivotal factor in the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases. Rhodiola, a traditional Chinese medicine, is recognized for its potent antioxidant properties. Salidroside, a phenylpropanoid glycoside derived from Rhodiola rosea, has shown remarkable antioxidant capabilities. This study aimed to elucidate the potential protective mechanisms of Rhodiola and salidroside against H2O2-induced cardiac apoptosis in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells. H9c2 cells were exposed to H2O2 for 4 h, and subsequently treated with Rhodiola or salidroside for 24 h. Cell viability and apoptotic pathways were assessed. The involvement of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) and the activation of extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) were investigated. H2O2 (100 μM) exposure significantly induced cardiac apoptosis in H9c2 cells. However, treatment with Rhodiola (12.5, 25, and 50 μg/mL) and salidroside (0.1, 1, and 10 nM) effectively attenuated H2O2-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. This protective effect was associated with IGF1R-activated phosphorylation of ERK1/2, leading to the inhibition of Fas-dependent proteins, HIF-1α, Bax, and Bak expression in H9c2 cells. The images from hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunofluorescence assays also revealed the protective effects of Rhodiola and salidroside in H9c2 cells against oxidative damage. Our findings suggest that Rhodiola and salidroside possess antioxidative properties that mitigate H2O2-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells. The protective mechanisms involve the activation of IGF1R and subsequent phosphorylation of ERK1/2. These results propose Rhodiola and salidroside as potential therapeutic agents for cardiomyocyte cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by oxidative stress in heart diseases. Future studies may explore their clinical applications in cardiac health.

Applications of Strain-Specific Probiotics in the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systemic Review

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of global mortality and novel approaches for prevention and management are needed. The human gastrointestinal tract hosts a diverse microbiota that is crucial in maintaining metabolic homeostasis. The formulation of effective probiotics, alone or in combination, has been under discussion due to their impact on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Probiotics have been shown to impact cardiovascular health positively. An imbalance in the presence of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes has been linked to the progression of CVDs due to their impact on bile acid and cholesterol metabolism. The probiotics primarily help in the reduction of plasma low-density lipoprotein levels and attenuation of the proinflammatory markers. These beneficial microorganisms contribute to lowering cholesterol levels and produce essential short-chain fatty acids. The impact of lipid-regulating probiotic strains on human health is quite significant. However, only a few have been tested for potential beneficial efficacy, and ambiguity exists regarding strain dosages, interactions with confounding factors, and potential adverse effects. Hence, more comprehensive studies and randomized trials are needed to understand the mechanisms of probiotics on CVDs and to ensure human health. This review assesses the evidence and highlights the roles of strain-specific probiotics in the management of CVDs.

Efficacy and safety of gut microbiota-based therapies in autoimmune and rheumatic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 80 randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggested that gut microbiota-based therapies may be effective in treating autoimmune diseases, but a systematic summary is lacking.

METHODS

Pubmed, EMbase, Sinomed, and other databases were searched for RCTs related to the treatment of autoimmune diseases with probiotics from inception to June 2022. RevMan 5.4 software was used for meta-analysis after 2 investigators independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies.

RESULTS

A total of 80 RCTs and 14 types of autoimmune disease [celiac sprue, SLE, and lupus nephritis (LN), RA, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), spondyloarthritis, psoriasis, fibromyalgia syndrome, MS, systemic sclerosis, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), oral lichen planus (OLP), Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis] were included. The results showed that gut microbiota-based therapies may improve the symptoms and/or inflammatory factor of celiac sprue, SLE and LN, JIA, psoriasis, PSS, MS, systemic sclerosis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. However, gut microbiota-based therapies may not improve the symptoms and/or inflammatory factor of spondyloarthritis and RA. Gut microbiota-based therapies may relieve the pain of fibromyalgia syndrome, but the effect on fibromyalgia impact questionnaire score is not significant. Gut microbiota-based therapies may improve HbA1c in T1DM, but its effect on total insulin requirement does not seem to be significant. These RCTs showed that probiotics did not increase the incidence of adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

Gut microbiota-based therapies may improve several autoimmune diseases (celiac sprue, SLE and LN, JIA, psoriasis, fibromyalgia syndrome, PSS, MS, T1DM, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis).

Neuroprotective Effects of Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 in the Hippocampus of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes-related brain complications have been reported in clinical patients and experimental models. The objective of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective mechanisms of Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. In this study, three different groups, namely control group, STZ-induced (55 mg/kg streptozotocin intraperitoneally) diabetic rats (DM), and DM rats treated with Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 (1 × 109 CFU/rat/day), were utilized to study the protective effect of GMNL-263 in the hippocampus of STZ-induced diabetic rats. The results demonstrated that GMNL-263 attenuated diabetes-induced hippocampal damage by enhancing the cell survival pathways and repressing both inflammatory and apoptotic pathways. Histopathological analysis revealed that GMNL-263 prevented structural changes in the hippocampus in the DM group and decreased the level of inflammation and apoptosis in the hippocampus of DM rats. The IGF1R cell survival signaling pathway also improved after GMNL-263 treatment. These results indicate that probiotic GMNL-263 exerts beneficial effects in the brain of diabetic rats and has potential ability for clinical application.

Probiotics as a complementary treatment in systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review

Introduction

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects young women. SLE has no recognized etiology but it is believed to be triggered by a number of factors, including genetic predisposition, hormonal influences, and environmental conditions. Dysbiosis in the gut microbiota has emerged as a potential mechanism connecting the intestinal microbiome to the breakdown of self-tolerance and chronic inflammation. This review aims to investigate the role of probiotics in modulating the gut microbiome and their potential therapeutic benefits in managing SLE, providing insights for future research and clinical practice.

Methods

We conducted a thorough search for papers published up to June 2023 in databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library.

Results

The systematic review identified 22 articles examining the effects of probiotics on SLE. These studies-which include in vivo tests, in vitro research, and clinical trials-indicate that probiotics may be effective against inflammation, and improve immunological responses and metabolic profiles in SLE patients. Most in vivo studies were assessed as medium to high quality, while the randomized controlled trial was deemed of high quality.

Conclusion

According to the findings of our systematic review, probiotics may be used in conjunction with other treatments to manage SLE. Nonetheless, current data is limited, and more randomized controlled trials would be required to fully examine their effectiveness.

Limosilactobacillus reuteri in immunomodulation: molecular mechanisms and potential applications

Frequent use of hormones and drugs may be associated with side-effects. Recent studies have shown that probiotics have effects on the prevention and treatment of immune-related diseases. Limosilactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) had regulatory effects on intestinal microbiota, host epithelial cells, immune cells, cytokines, antibodies (Ab), toll-like receptors (TLRs), tryptophan (Try) metabolism, antioxidant enzymes, and expression of related genes, and exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, leading to alleviation of disease symptoms. Although the specific composition of the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of L. reuteri has not been clarified, its efficacy in animal models has drawn increased attention to its potential use. This review summarizes the effects of L. reuteri on intestinal flora and immune regulation, and discusses the feasibility of its application in atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and multiple sclerosis (MS), and provides insights for the prevention and treatment of immune-related diseases.

Exploring the Complex Relationship Between Microbiota and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by various autoantibodies and multi-organ. Microbiota dysbiosis in the gut, skin, oral, and other surfaces has a significant impact on SLE development. This article summarizes relevant research and provides new microbiome-related strategies for exploring the mechanisms and treating patients with SLE.

RECENT FINDINGS

SLE patients have disruptions in multiple microbiomes, with the gut microbiota (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) and their metabolites being the most thoroughly researched. This dysbiosis can promote SLE progression through mechanisms such as the leaky gut, molecular mimicry, and epigenetic regulation. Notwithstanding study constraints on the relationship between microbiota and SLE, specific interventions targeting the gut microbiota, such as probiotics, dietary management, and fecal microbiota transplantation, have emerged as promising SLE therapeutics.

Cardiac-specific overexpression of insulin-like growth factor II receptor-α interferes with the regulation of calcium homeostasis in the heart under hyperglycemic conditions

BACKGROUND

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a progressive disease caused by inexplicit mechanisms, and a novel factor, insulin-like growth factor II receptor-α (IGF-IIRα), may contribute to aggravating its pathogenesis. We hypothesized that IGF-IIRα could intensify diabetic heart injury.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To demonstrate the potential role of IGF-IIRα in the diabetic heart, we used (SD-TG [IGF-IIRα]) transgenic rat model with cardiac-specific overexpression of IGF-IIRα, along with H9c2 cells, to study the effects of IGF-IIRα in the heart under hyperglycemic conditions. IGF-IIRα was found to remodel calcium homeostasis and intracellular Ca2+ overload-induced autophagy disturbance in the heart during diabetes. IGF-IIRα overexpression induced intracellular Ca2+ alteration by downregulating phosphorylated phospholamban/sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase 2a (PLB/SERCA2a), resulting in the suppression of Ca2+ uptake into the endoplasmic reticulum. Additionally, IGF-IIRα itself contributed to Ca2+ withdrawal from the endoplasmic reticulum by increasing the expression of CaMKIIδ in the active form. Furthermore, alterations in Ca2+ homeostasis significantly dysregulated autophagy in the heart during diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals the novel role of IGF-IIRα in regulating cardiac intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and its related autophagy interference, which contribute to the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. In future, the present study findings have implications in the development of appropriate therapy to reduce diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Insulin-like growth factor II receptor alpha overexpression in heart aggravates hyperglycemia-induced cardiac inflammation and myocardial necrosis

Diabetes-induced cardiovascular complications are mainly associated with high morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. Insulin-like growth factor II receptor α (IGF-IIRα) is a cardiac risk factor. In this study, we hypothesized IGF-IIRα could also deteriorate diabetic heart injury. The results presented that both in vivo transgenic Sprague-Dawley rat model with specific IGF-IIRα overexpression in the heart and in vitro myocardium H9c2 cells were used to investigate the negative function of IGF-IIRα in diabetic hearts. The results showed that IGF-IIRα overexpression aided hyperglycemia in creating more myocardial injury. Pro-inflammatory factors, such as Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, Interleukin-6, Cyclooxygenase-2, Inducible nitric oxide synthase, and Nuclear factor-kappaB inflammatory cascade, are enhanced in the diabetic myocardium with cardiac-specific IGF-IIRα overexpression. Correspondingly, IGF-IIRα overexpression in the diabetic myocardium also reduced the PI3K-AKT survival axis and activated mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis. Finally, both ejection fraction and fractional shortening were be significantly decrease in diabetic rats with cardiac-specific IGF-IIRα overexpression. Overall, all results provid clear evidence that IGF-IIRα can enhance cardiac damage and is a harmful factor to the heart under high-blood glucose conditions. However, the pathophysiology of IGF-IIRα under different stresses and its downstream regulation in the heart still require further research.

Angiotensin II prompts heart cell apoptosis via AT1 receptor-augmented phosphatase and tensin homolog and miR-320-3p functions to enhance suppression of the IGF1R-PI3K-AKT survival pathway

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is a severe public health risk factor worldwide. Elevated angiotensin II (Ang II) produced by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system can lead to hypertension and its complications.

METHOD

In this study, we addressed the cardiac-injury effects of Ang II and investigated the signaling mechanism induced by Ang II. Both H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were exposed to Ang II to observe hypertension-related cardiac apoptosis.

RESULTS

The results of western blotting revealed that Ang II significantly attenuated the IGF1R-PI3K-AKT pathway via the Ang II-AT1 receptor axis and phosphatase and tensin homolog expression. Furthermore, real-time PCR showed that Ang II also activated miR-320-3p transcription to repress the PI3K-Akt pathway. In the heart tissue of spontaneously hypertensive rats, activation of the IGF1R survival pathway was also reduced compared with that in Wistar-Kyoto rats, especially in aged spontaneously hypertensive rats.

CONCLUSION

Hence, we speculate that the Ang II-AT1 receptor axis induces both phosphatase and tensin homolog and miR-320-3p expression to downregulate the IGF1R-PI3K-AKT survival pathway and cause cell apoptosis in the heart.

Curcumin-Pretreated Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Enhance the Neuroprotective Ability to Repair Rheumatoid Arthritis-Induced Damage in the Rat Brain

Neurodegenerative diseases have become increasingly prevalent in the aged population. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes systemic inflammation, damaging the neurons. However, only a few treatment options can reduce RA-induced neurodegeneration. This study aimed to evaluate whether adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) pretreated with curcumin could ameliorate RA-induced neurodegenerative illness in an RA rat model. Wistar rats were randomly classified into the following four groups: control, RA, RA + ADSC (1 × 10⁶ cells per rat), and RA + curcumin-pretreated ADSC (1 × 10⁶ cells per rat). After treatment for two months, the effects were specifically evaluated in the brains collected from the rats. Our results demonstrated that the transplantation of curcumin-pretreated ADSCs substantially reduced inflammation and apoptosis in the cortices of RA rats compared to those of other groups. Thus, the combination of ADSCs and curcumin exerts a synergistic effect in enhancing neuronal protection in RA rats. In the future, this combination therapeutic strategy can potentially be used as a novel treatment method to reduce RA-induced neurodegenerative disorders.

Gut microbiota in systemic lupus erythematosus: A fuse and a solution

Gut commensals help shape and mold host immune system and deeply influence human health. The disease spectrum of mankind that gut microbiome may associate with is ever-growing, but the mechanisms are still enigmas. Characterized by loss of self-tolerance and sustained self-attack, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is labeled with chronic inflammation, production of autoantibodies and multisystem injury, which so far are mostly incurable. Gut microbiota and their metabolites, now known as important environmental triggers of local/systemic immune responses, have been proposed to be involved in SLE development and progression probably through the following mechanisms: translocation beyond their niches; molecular mimicry to cross-activate immune response targeting self-antigens; epitope spreading to expand autoantibodies spectrum; and bystander activation to promote systemic inflammation. Gut microbiota which varies between individuals may also influence the metabolism and bio-transformation of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, thus associated with the efficacy and toxicity of these drugs, adding another explanation for heterogenic therapeutic responses. Modulation of gut microbiota via diet, probiotics/prebiotics, antibiotics/phages, fecal microbiota transplantation, or helminth to restore immune tolerance and homeostasis is expected to be a promising neoadjuvant therapy for SLE. We reviewed the advances in this territory and discussed the application prospect of modulating gut microbiota in controlling SLE.

Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Pretreatment Improves Autologous Adipose-derived Stem Cells Against Rheumatoid Arthritis-induced Neuroinflammation in the Brain of Collagen-induced Rats

Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSC) exert neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. ADSCs are considered potential therapeutics for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory, multisystemic autoimmune disease. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenolic compound in green tea, has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate whether EGCG has a synergistic effect on the neuroprotective effects of ADSCs to protect the RA-damaged brain. Wistar rats were classified into four groups: sham, RA, RA + ADSCs (1 × 10⁶ cells per rat), and RA + EGCG (10 µM)-pretreated ADSCs. After 2 months of treatment, the brain tissues from the rats were collected and investigated. The brains of RA rats had higher inflammation and apoptosis. ADSC treatment ameliorated these negative effects significantly; however, the neuroprotective abilities of EGCG-pretreated ADSCs were significantly higher than ADSCs. Furthermore, the RA-induced repression of the PI3K/Akt survival pathway was reactivated by EGCG-pretreated ADSCs. Collectively, this study provides evidence that EGCG synergistically enhances the neuroprotective ability of ADSCs to repress the negative effects of RA on the brain. These findings could help develop new therapeutic strategies against RA or other neurodegenerative diseases after clinical validation in the future.

Lactobacillus: Friend or Foe for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?

The cause of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) remains largely unknown, despite the fact that it is well understood that a complex interaction between genes and environment is required for disease development. Microbiota serve as activators and are essential to immune homeostasis. Lactobacillus is thought to be an environmental agent affecting the development of SLE. However, beneficial therapeutic and anti-inflammatory effects of Lactobacillus on SLE were also explored. The discovery of Lactobacillus involvement in SLE will shed light on how SLE develops, as well as finding microbiota-targeted biomarkers and novel therapies. In this review, we attempt to describe the two sides of Lactobacillus in the occurrence, development, treatment and prognosis of SLE. We also discuss the effect of different strains Lactobacillus on immune cells, murine lupus, and patients. Finally, we try to illustrate the potential immunological mechanisms of Lactobacillus on SLE and provide evidence for further microbiota-targeted therapies.

The Microbiota in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Update on the Potential Function of Probiotics

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a kind of chronic diffuse connective tissue illness characterized by multisystem and multiorgan involvement, repeated recurrence and remission, and the presence of a large pool of autoantibodies in the body. Although the exact cause of SLE is not thoroughly revealed, accumulating evidence has manifested that intake of probiotics alters the composition of the gut microbiome, regulating the immunomodulatory and inflammatory response, which may be linked to the disease pathogenesis. Particularly, documented experiments demonstrated that SLE patients have remarkable changes in gut microbiota compared to healthy controls, indicating that the alteration of microbiota may be implicated in different phases of SLE. In this review, the alteration of microbiota in the development of SLE is summarized, and the mechanism of intestinal microbiota on the progression of immune and inflammatory responses in SLE is also discussed. Due to limited reports on the effects of probiotics supplementation in SLE patients, we emphasize advancements made in the last few years on the function and mechanisms of probiotics in the development of SLE animal models. Besides, we follow through literature to survey whether probiotics supplements can be an adjuvant therapy for comprehensive treatment of SLE. Research has indicated that intake of probiotics alters the composition of the gut microbiome, contributing to prevent the progression of SLE. Adjustment of the gut microbiome through probiotics supplementation seems to alleviate SLE symptoms and their cardiovascular and renal complications in animal models, marking this treatment as a potentially novel approach.

Diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy is ameliorated by heat-killed Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 in diabetic rats via the repression of the toll-like receptor 4 pathway

PURPOSE

Diabetes mellitus (DM) leads to disorders such as cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac myocyte apoptosis, and cardiac fibrosis. Previous studies have shown that Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 decreases cardiomyopathy by reducing inflammation. In this study, we investigated the potential benefit of GMNL-263 supplementation in treating diabetes-induced cardiomyocytes in rats with DM.

METHODS

Five-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, control, DM, and rats with DM treated with different dosages of L. reuteri GMNL-263. After undergoing treatment for 4 weeks, all rats were euthanized for further analysis.

RESULTS

We observed that cardiac function and structure of rats with DM was rescued by GMNL-263. Activation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-related inflammatory, hypertrophic, and fibrotic signaling pathways in the hearts of rats with DM was reduced by treatment with GMNL-263.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that GMNL-263 inhibited diabetes-induced cardiomyocytes via the repression of the TLR4 pathway. Moreover, these findings suggest that treatment with high-dose GMNL-263 could be a precautionary therapy for reducing the diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy.

Immune Privilege: The Microbiome and Uveitis

Immune privilege (IP), a term introduced to explain the unpredicted acceptance of allogeneic grafts by the eye and the brain, is considered a unique property of these tissues. However, immune responses are modified by the tissue in which they occur, most of which possess IP to some degree. The eye therefore displays a spectrum of IP because it comprises several tissues. IP as originally conceived can only apply to the retina as it contains few tissue-resident bone-marrow derived myeloid cells and is immunologically shielded by a sophisticated barrier – an inner vascular and an outer epithelial barrier at the retinal pigment epithelium. The vascular barrier comprises the vascular endothelium and the glia limitans. Immune cells do not cross the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) despite two-way transport of interstitial fluid, governed by tissue oncotic pressure. The BRB, and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) mature in the neonatal period under signals from the expanding microbiome and by 18 months are fully established. However, the adult eye is susceptible to intraocular inflammation (uveitis; frequency ~200/100,000 population). Uveitis involving the retinal parenchyma (posterior uveitis, PU) breaches IP, while IP is essentially irrelevant in inflammation involving the ocular chambers, uveal tract and ocular coats (anterior/intermediate uveitis/sclerouveitis, AU). Infections cause ~50% cases of AU and PU but infection may also underlie the pathogenesis of immune-mediated “non-infectious” uveitis. Dysbiosis accompanies the commonest form, HLA-B27–associated AU, while latent infections underlie BRB breakdown in PU. This review considers the pathogenesis of uveitis in the context of IP, infection, environment, and the microbiome.