Administration of Lactobacillus salivarius LI01 or Pediococcus pentosaceus LI05 prevents CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis by protecting the intestinal barrier in rats

Therapeutic Role of Probiotics Against Environmental-Induced Hepatotoxicity: Mechanisms, Clinical Perspectives, Limitations, and Future

Hepatotoxicity is one of the biggest health challenges, particularly in the context of liver diseases, often aggravated by gut microbiota dysbiosis. The gut-liver axis has been regarded as a key idea in liver health. It indicates that changes in gut flora caused by various hepatotoxicants, including alcoholism, acetaminophen, carbon tetrachloride, and thioacetamide, can affect the balance of the gut's microflora, which may lead to increased dysbiosis and intestinal permeability. As a result, bacterial endotoxins would eventually enter the bloodstream and liver, causing hepatotoxicity and inducing inflammatory reactions. Many treatments, including liver transplantation and modern drugs, can be used to address these issues. However, because of the many side effects of these approaches, scientists and medical experts are still hoping for a therapeutic approach with fewer side effects and more positive results. Thus, probiotics have become well-known as an adjunctive strategy for managing, preventing, or reducing hepatotoxicity in treating liver injury. By altering the gut microbiota, probiotics offer a secure, non-invasive, and economical way to improve liver health in the treatment of hepatotoxicity. Through various mechanisms such as regulation of gut microbiota, reduction of pathogenic overgrowth, suppression of inflammatory mediators, modification of hepatic lipid metabolism, improvement in the performance of the epithelial barrier of the gut, antioxidative effects, and modulation of mucosal immunity, probiotics play their role in the treatment and prevention of hepatotoxicity. This review highlights the mechanistic effects of probiotics in environmental toxicants-induced hepatotoxicity and current findings on this therapeutic approach's experimental and clinical trials.

Gold nanoparticles exhibit anti-osteoarthritic effects via modulating interaction of the "microbiota-gut-joint" axis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease that can cause severe pain, motor dysfunction, and even disability. A growing body of research indicates that gut microbiota and their associated metabolites are key players in maintaining bone health and in the progression of OA. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are a series of active metabolites that widely participate in bone homeostasis. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) with outstanding anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, have been demonstrated to ameliorate excessive bone loss during the progression of osteoporosis (OP) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the protective effects of GNPs on OA progression are not clear. Here, we observed that GNPs significantly alleviated anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)-induced OA in a gut microbiota-dependent manner. 16S rDNA gene sequencing showed that GNPs changed gut microbial diversity and structure, which manifested as an increase in the abundance of Akkermansia and Lactobacillus. Additionally, GNPs increased levels of SCFAs (such as butyric acid), which could have improved bone destruction by reducing the inflammatory response. Notably, GNPs modulated the dynamic balance of M1/M2 macrophages, and increased the serum levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10. To sum up, our study indicated that GNPs exhibited anti-osteoarthritis effects via modulating the interaction of "microbiota-gut-joint" axis, which might provide promising therapeutic strategies for OA.

Protective effect of Pediococcus pentosaceus Li05 on diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome in rats

Pediococcus pentosaceus Li05 (Li05) has demonstrated potential benefits in various intestinal and liver diseases, but its potential and mechanisms in relieving diarrhea have not been understood. The objective of this research was to examine the effects and mechanisms of Li05 in rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) induced by wrap restrain stress (WRS) and 4% acetic acid. The results demonstrated that Li05 effectively alleviated weight loss, visceral sensitivity and diarrhea in rats with IBS-D. It also improved intestinal and systemic inflammation by reducing the levels of chemokines and proinflammatory cytokines (GRO/KC, RANTES, IL-1β, IL-7, and IL-18). The 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) signaling pathway is involved in regulating excessive intestinal motility and secretion in IBS-D. Li05 effectively reduced the expression levels of the 5-HT3B receptor (5-HT3BR) (p < 0.01) in the intestine. Additionally, Li05 intervention had a regulatory effect on the gut composition, with a decrease in the abundance of [Ruminococcus] gauvreauii group, Dubosiella, Erysipelatoclostridium and Blautia, and an increase in the abundance of Alloprevotella, Anaerotruncus and Mucispirillum. Furthermore, Li05 induced significant changes in fatty acid and amino acid metabolism in the gut of rats with IBS-D. These findings indicate that Li05 exhibits an effective improvement in IBS-D symptoms by reducing inflammation and modulating gut microbiota and metabolism. Based on the above results, Li05 holds promise as a potential probiotic for managing IBS-D.

Effects of Bacillus licheniformis on growth performance, immune and antioxidant functions, and intestinal microbiota of broilers

Bacillus licheniformis (BL) has been widely regarded as an important growth promoter in recent years. However, its usage in animal industry still needs more foundations. The aim of our study was to study the effects of BL on the growth performance, immunity, oxidative function and intestinal flora of broilers. A total of 760 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers were randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 replicates per group and 19 broilers per replicate. The broilers in the control group (CON) were fed with basal diet. The treatment groups were supplemented with 250 mg/kg (BL250), 500 mg/kg (BL500) and 750 mg/kg (BL750) BL in the basal diet for 70 d. Results showed that BL groups significantly increased the body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG), decreased average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). In addition, the spleen and bursa indexes were higher in the BL groups than that in the CON group at d 70. BL supplementation also markedly increased the levels of immunoglobulins Y (IgY), IgA and anti-inflammatory interleukin 10 (IL-10), reduced the levels of proinflammatory IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and IL-2 in the serum at 70 d in a concentration-dependent manner. Besides, BL addition significantly increased the levels of series antioxidant enzymes including total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), and decreased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum. Moreover, BL groups showed an obvious increase of isobutyric acid markedly and BL500 group significantly promoted the level of isovaleric acid in cecal contents of broilers. Finally, microbial analysis showed that BL supplementation presented visual separations of microbial composition and increased the relative abundance of p_Proteobacteria, g_Elusimicrobium, and g_Parasutterella comparing with the CON group. Together, this study inferred that dietary BL supplementation improved the growth performance, immune and antioxidant functions, changed the intestinal microflora structure and metabolites of yellow-feathered broilers, which laid a good basis for the application of probiotics in the future.

Probiotic Pediococcus pentosaceus Li05 Improves Cholestasis through the FXR-SHP and FXR-FGF15 Pathways

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare chronic cholestatic liver disease, is characterized by intrahepatic or extrahepatic strictures accompanied by biliary fibrosis. So far, there are no effective therapies to slow down the progression of this disease. Farnesoid X receptors (FXRs) are ligand-activated transcription factors involved in the control of bile acid (BA) synthesis and enterohepatic circulation. Therefore, targeting FXRs holds promise as a potential approach for treating PSC. Pediococcus pentosaceus Li05 is a probiotic that was isolated from healthy volunteers and has previously been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect in DSS-induced colitis. In this study, we established a 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-Dihydrocollidine (DDC)-induced cholestasis mouse model and investigated the effects of Pediococcus pentosaceus Li05 on PSC. Our findings revealed that administration of Li05 significantly attenuated liver damage, hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis, as well as bile duct hyperplasia. Li05 activated the hepatic FXR-SHP and ileal FXR-FGF15 signaling pathways to decrease the expression of Cyp7a1. In addition, the Li05-modulated gut microbiota structure especially improved the abundance of 7α-dehydroxylation bacteria like Eubacterium. The intervention of Li05 also improved the intestinal barrier and reduced bacterial endotoxin translocation. Based on these findings, Li05 shows promise for future application as a therapeutic strategy for cholestasis.

Do gut microbiome-targeted therapies improve liver function in cirrhotic patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Microbiome-targeted therapies (MTTs) are considered as promising interventions for cirrhosis, but the impact of gut microbiome modulation on liver function and disease severity has not been fully assessed. We comprehensively evaluated the efficacy of MTTs in patients with liver cirrhosis.

METHODS

Data from randomized controlled trials were collected through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrial.gov from inception to February 20, 2023. Clinical outcomes were pooled and expressed in terms of risk ratios or mean differences (MD). Additional subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to validate the robustness of findings. A trial sequential analysis was applied to calculate the required information size and evaluate the credibility of the meta-analysis results.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies with a total of 1699 cirrhotic patients were included for meta-analysis. MTTs were associated with a significant reduction in aspartate aminotransferase (MD, -3.62; 95% CI, -6.59 to -0.65), the risk of hepatic encephalopathy (risk ratio = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.46 to 0.68), model for end-stage liver disease score (MD, -0.90; 95% CI, -1.17 to -0.11), ammonia (MD, -11.86; 95% CI, -16.39 to -7.33), and endotoxin (MD, -0.14; 95% CI, -0.23 to -0.04). The trial sequential analysis yielded reliable results of these outcomes. No effects were observed on the changes of other hepatic function indicators.

CONCLUSION

MTTs appeared to be associated with a slowed deterioration in liver cirrhosis, which could provide reference for clinicians in treatment of cirrhotic patients based on their conditions.

Probiotic management and inflammatory factors as a novel treatment in cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The interaction between intestinal microecological dysregulation, altered inflammatory factors, and cirrhosis is unclear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesize the results of previous studies to assess the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of cirrhosis and their effect on inflammatory factors, as well as to explore the relationship between gut microecological dysregulation and liver disease to gain a deeper understanding of this interaction. Up to December 2022, eligible studies were identified by searching the following databases: National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Medline, and the Cochrane Library. Statistical analysis was performed using software RevMan Version 5.4. A total of 33 eligible randomized controlled trials were included in the study, and data on probiotic strains, duration of intervention, measures in the control group, and outcomes were extracted and evaluated. Compared to the control group, the experimental group had significant improvements in overall efficacy. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that probiotic use significantly decreased biochemical parameters for liver function, including aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin. Similar result was obtained in interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and endotoxin. However, probiotic intervention did not significantly affect interleukin-2 and interleukin-10. The current meta-analysis illustrates that probiotic supplementation reduces inflammatory markers and biochemical parameters for liver function in patients with cirrhosis, suggesting that probiotic management may be a novel treatment for cirrhosis. Furthermore, the interaction of the gut microbiota, associated metabolites, and inflammation factors with cirrhosis may provide a promising therapeutic target for the pharmacological and clinical treatment of cirrhosis.

Therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanisms of Gastrodia elata polysaccharides on dextran sulfate sodium-induced inflammatory bowel disease in mice: Modulation of the gut microbiota and improvement of metabolic disorders

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal disease, and an imbalance in the gut microbiota is a critical factor in its development. Gastrodia elata (G. elata), an Orchidaceae plant, is recognized for its nutritional and medicinal value. Studies have shown that G. elata polysaccharides (GBP) have anti-inflammatory properties that may ameliorate IBD. However, the therapeutic effects of GBP on gut microbiota metabolism remain unknown. Therefore, we aimed to examine the therapeutic potential of G. elata extract and GBP in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced IBD mice. GBP demonstrated the best therapeutic effect by reducing IBD symptoms in mice to the greatest extent. Administering GBP resulted in significant increases in the relative abundances of bacteria with potential anti-inflammatory effects, such as Ligilactobacillus and Alloprevotella, and decreases in the levels of bacteria associated with proinflammatory responses, such as Bacteroides and Escherichia-Shigella. Furthermore, 36 significant differential metabolites between the model and GBP groups were identified in feces, which were mainly enriched in amino acid metabolism, including tryptophan and cysteine, vitamin B6 metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Consequently, investigating the metabolic regulation of the gut microbiota is a promising approach to evaluate the therapeutic effect of GBP on IBD.

Ecological and dynamic analysis of gut microbiota in the early stage of azomethane-dextran sodium sulfate model in mice

The success rate of azomethane-dextran sodium sulfate (AOM-DSS) model in mice has been a long-standing problem. Treatment of AOM and the first round DSS induces acute colitis and is of great significance for the success of AOM-DSS model. In this study, we focused on the role of gut microbiota in the early stage of AOM-DSS model. Few mice with obvious weight loss and high disease-activity score survived from double strike of AOM and the first round DSS. Different ecological dynamics of gut microbiota were observed in AOM-DSS treated mice. Pseudescherichia, Turicibacter, and Clostridium_XVIII were of significance in the model, uncontrolled proliferation of which accompanied with rapid deterioration and death of mice. Akkermansia and Ruthenibacterium were significantly enriched in the alive AOM-DSS treated mice. Decrease of Ligilactobacillus, Lactobacillus, and Limosilactobacillus were observed in AOM-DSS model, but significant drop of these genera could be lethal. Millionella was the only hub genus of gut microbiota network in dead mice, which indicated dysbiosis of the intestinal flora and fragility of microbial network. Our results will provide a better understanding for the role of gut microbiota in the early stage of AOM-DSS model and help improve the success rate of model construction.

Stereoselective metabolic disruption of cypermethrin by remolding gut homeostasis in rat

Cypermethrin (CYP), a prototypical synthetic pyrethroid, reportedly causes metabolic disruption, while its stereoselective impact remains elusive. This study initially revealed that only α-CYP caused significant weight loss at 8.5 mg/(kg•day) in rats. All three CYP isomers caused the accumulation of hepatic glycogen, and hyperlipemia phenotype as the increment of total triglyceride. Rats treated with α-CYP had markedly high blood glucose levels and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index. The systematic inflammation of θ-CYP group rats was evidenced by high lipopolysaccharide-binding protein levels and abnormalities of leukocytes indices. By examining the gut microbiome, we found that α-CYP-treated rats had low contents of Firmicutes and high levels of Verrucomicrobia while Elusimicrobia was enriched in the β-CYP group. The increasing alpha diversity in the θ-CYP group may be due to the dominance of pathogenic bacteria and the increase of probiotics to counteract adverse effects. Exclusively, the α-CYP group enriched total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), whereas most SCFAs depleted in the θ-CYP group. The correlation analysis further found Firmicutes, an energy storage modulator, was positive to body weight (BW), while SCFAs exerted the opposite, confirming the low BW in α-CYP. Blood glucose that correlated well with SCFAs and Verrucomicrobia can be accounted for the discrepancy between α-CYP and θ-CYP. Overall, the three isomers exerted stereoselective glycolipid disruption in rats, and gut homeostasis acted as vital indicators.

Gut Lactobacillus and Probiotics Lactobacillus lactis/rhamnosis Ameliorate Liver Fibrosis in Prevention and Treatment

The progression and exacerbation of liver fibrosis are closely related to the gut microbiome. It is hypothesized that some probiotics may slow the progression of liver fibrosis. In human stool analysis [healthy group (n = 44) and cirrhosis group (n = 18)], difference in Lactobacillus genus between healthy group and cirrhosis group was observed. Based on human data, preventive and therapeutic effect of probiotics Lactobacillus lactis and L. rhamnosus was evaluated by using four mice fibrosis models. L. lactis and L. rhamnosus were supplied to 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine or carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis C57BL/6 mouse model. Serum biochemical measurements, tissue staining, and mRNA expression in the liver were evaluated. The microbiome was analyzed in mouse cecal contents. In the mouse model, the effects of Lactobacillus in preventing and treating liver fibrosis were different for each microbe species. In case of L. lactis, all models showed preventive and therapeutic effects against liver fibrosis. In microbiome analysis in mouse models administered Lactobacillus, migration and changes in the ratio and composition of the gut microbial community were confirmed. L. lactis and L. rhamnosus showed preventive and therapeutic effects on the progression of liver fibrosis, suggesting that Lactobacillus intake may be a useful strategy for prevention and treatment.

Health-Promoting Potential of Millet: A Review

Being a key source of animal food, millet production has been sharply increasing over the last few years in order to cope with the dietary requirements of the ever-increasing world population. It is a splendid source of essential nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, vitamins, and also some other bioactive compounds that eventually help through multiple biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-cholesterol, anti-hypertensive, anthropometric effects and regulation of gut microbiota composition. These bioactive compounds, nutrients, and functions of cereal grains can be affected by processing techniques such as decortication, soaking, malting, milling, fermentation, etc. This study discusses the nutritional and functional properties of millet-incorporated foods and their impact on health, based on around 150 articles between 2015 and 2022 from the Web of Science, Google Scholar, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Breeding Bid Survey (BBS), and FoodData Central (USDA) databases. Analyzing literature reviews, it is evident that the incorporation of millet and its constituents into foodstuffs could be useful against undernourishment and several other health diseases. Additionally, this review provides crucial information about the beneficial features of millet, which can serve as a benchmark of guidelines for industry, consumers, researchers, and nutritionists.

A Chinese herbs complex ameliorates gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by intermittent cold exposure in female rats

Cold is a common source of stress in the alpine areas of northern China. It affects the microbial community, resulting in the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms and intestinal diseases. In recent years, studies have reported that Chinese herbal extracts and their fermentation broth have a significant beneficial effect on gut microbiota. This study aimed to investigate the probiotic effect of a self-designed Chinese herbs complex on the gut microbiota of rats exposed to cold. The rats were treated with intermittent cold exposure and Chinese herbs complex for 14 days, and the gut microbiota composition and other parameters were assayed. The 16s ribosomal DNA high-throughput sequencing and analysis confirmed that the Chinese herbs complex positively improved the gut microbiota. We found that cold exposure could lead to significant changes in the composition of gut microbiota, and affect the intestinal barrier and other physiological functions. The relative abundance of some probiotics in the genus such as Roseburia, Parasutterella, and Elusimicrobium in rats treated with Chinese herbs complex was significantly increased. Serum D-lactic acid (D-LA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were increased in the cold exposure group and decreased in the Chinese herbs complex-treated group. Moreover, the Chinese herbs complex significantly increased the protein expression of occludin. In conclusion, the Chinese herbs complex is effective in restoring the gut microbiota caused by cold exposure, improving the function of the intestinal barrier, and may act as a prebiotic in combatting gut dysbiosis.

Nutritional Support in Acute Liver Failure

Acute liver failure (ALF) presents with an acute abnormality of liver blood tests in an individual without underlying chronic liver disease. The clinical course leads to the development of coagulopathy and hepatic encephalopathy. The role of nutrition in its prevention and treatment remains uncertain. We aimed to review literature data on the concept of ALF and the role of nutrition in its treatment and prevention, considering the impact of gut microbiota dysbiosis and eubiosis. We conducted a review of the literature on the main medical databases using the following keywords and acronyms and their associations: liver failure, nutrition, branched-chain amino acids, gut microbiota, dysbiosis, and probiotics. Upon their arrival at the emergency department, an early, accurate nutritional assessment is crucial for individuals with ALF. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), stable euglycemia maintenance, and moderate caloric support are crucial for this subset of patients. An excessive protein load must be avoided because it worsens hepatic encephalopathy. Preclinical evidence supports future probiotics use for ALF treatment/prevention. Nutritional support and treatment for ALF are crucial steps against patient morbidity and mortality. BCAAs and euglycemia remain the mainstay of nutritional treatment of ALF. Gut dysbiosis re-modulation has an emerging and natural-history changing impact on ALF.

Potential application of the probiotic Bacillus licheniformis as an adjuvant in the treatment of diseases in humans and animals: A systematic review

The use of Bacillus licheniformis as a probiotic has increased significantly in recent years. Published reports demonstrate that it provides multiple benefits for health. Although there are already studies in humans and is marketed, it is mostly used in the veterinary industry still. However, its benefits could be extrapolated to humans in future. This review addresses the application of B. licheniformis, its sporulation, mechanisms of action, and its role in the resolution, treatment, and prevention of different conditions and diseases. It focuses on scientific advances from 2016 to mid-2022 and emphasizes the most common diseases in the general population. Most of the 70% of published studies about the health benefits of B. licheniformis have been published from 2016 until now. The intake of B. licheniformis has been related to the effects of modulation of the intestinal microbiota, antimicrobial activity, growth promotion, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulatory effects, promotion of the regulation of the lipid profile, increase of neurotransmitters, and stress reduction, among others. These results provide novel possible applications of this and other probiotics in general. Although many benefits can be reported on a microorganism, the combination with others could provide a better effect. Further studies like this need to be done to understand the specific advantages of each probiotic and its strains and therefore achieve a better selection of them for a specific disease or disorder.

How Hydroxyurea Alters the Gut Microbiome: A Longitudinal Study Involving Angolan Children with Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited hematological disorder and a serious global health problem, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although hydroxyurea (HU) is the leading treatment for patients with SCA, its effects on the gut microbiome have not yet been explored. In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate this association by characterizing the gut microbiome of an Angolan SCA pediatric population before and after 6 months of HU treatment. A total of 66 stool samples were obtained and sequenced for the 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 regions). Significant associations were observed in alpha and beta-diversity, with higher values of species richness for the children naïve for HU. We also noticed that children after HU had higher proportions of several beneficial bacteria, mostly short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) producing species, such as Blautia luti, Roseburia inulinivorans, Eubacterium halli, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, Lactobacillus rogosae, among others. In addition, before HU there was a higher abundance of Clostridium_g24, which includes C. bolteae and C. clostridioforme, both considered pathogenic. This study provides the first evidence of the HU effect on the gut microbiome and unravels several microorganisms that could be considered candidate biomarkers for disease severity and HU efficacy.

Probiotics: Evolving as a Potential Therapeutic Option against Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity

Acetaminophen (APAP) is the most common prescription medicine around the world for the treatment of pain and fever and is considered to be a safe drug at its therapeutic dose. However, a single overdose or frequent use of APAP can cause severe acute liver injury. APAP hepatotoxicity is a prevalent cause of acute liver disease around the world and the lack of suitable treatment makes it a serious problem. In recent years, there has been a surge in interest in using probiotics and probiotic-derived products, known as postbiotics, as health and disease negotiators. A growing body of evidence revealed that they can be equally effective against APAP hepatotoxicity. Different probiotic bacteria were found to be pre-clinically effective against APAP hepatotoxicity. Different postbiotics have also shown exciting results in preclinical models of APAP hepatotoxicity. This review summarized the protective roles and mechanisms of the different probiotic bacteria and postbiotics against APAP hepatotoxicity, with critical discussion. A brief discussion on potential novel probiotics and postbiotics for oxidative liver injury was also included. This review was written in an attempt to pique the interest of researchers in developing a safe therapeutic option against oxidative liver damage using probiotics and/or postbiotics as dietary supplements.

Microencapsulating Alginate-Based Polymers for Probiotics Delivery Systems and Their Application

Probiotics exhibit many health benefits and a great potential for broad applications in pharmaceutical fields, such as prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal tract diseases (irritable bowel syndrome), prevention and therapy of allergies, certain anticancer effects, and immunomodulation. However, their applications are limited by the low viability and metabolic activity of the probiotics during processing, storage, and delivery in the digestive tract. To overcome the mentioned limitations, probiotic delivery systems have attracted much attention. This review focuses on alginate as a preferred polymer and presents recent advances in alginate-based polymers for probiotic delivery systems. We highlight several alginate-based delivery systems containing various types of probiotics and the physical and chemical modifications with chitosan, cellulose, starch, protein, fish gel, and many other materials to enhance their performance, of which the viability and protective mechanisms are discussed. Withal, various challenges in alginate-based polymers for probiotics delivery systems are traced out, and future directions, specifically on the use of nanomaterials as well as prebiotics, are delineated to further facilitate subsequent researchers in selecting more favorable materials and technology for probiotic delivery.

Dietary ellagic acid ameliorated Clostridium perfringens-induced subclinical necrotic enteritis in broilers via regulating inflammation and cecal microbiota

Background

Subclinical necrotic enteritis (SNE), a common intestinal disease of broiler caused by Clostridium perfringens, could reduce production performance of broilers by chronic intestinal damage and poor absorption of nutrients. Ellagic acid (EA) has been reported to present antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties on human and animals in many aspects. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect and mechanism of EA in relieving SNE in broilers induced by C. perfringens.

Results

C. perfringens challenge decreased body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), jejunal villi height/crypt depth (V/C) ratio, the activity of catalase (CAT) and the mRNA expression of zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) in jejunal mucosa of broilers. While feed conversion ratios (FCR), jejunal crypt depth (CD), the activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and diamine oxidase (DAO), as well as the concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) in serum, the activities of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and lysozyme (LZM), the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), and the mRNA expressions of claudin-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, TLR-4, TLR-2, NF-κB, JAK3, STAT6 and iNOS in jejunal mucosa of broilers were increased by C. perfringens challenge. Dietary EA supplement relieved these adverse effects, and heightened jejunal villi height (VH), the concentration of D-xylose in plasma, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the mRNA expression of occludin in jejunal mucosa of broilers. The alpha diversity of cecal microbiota indicated that dietary EA supplement increased observed species and Shannon index. C. perfringens challenge increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and decreased the relative abundance of Desulfobacterota in cecal microbiota. EA increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes in cecal microbiota. LEfSe analysis showed that C. perfringens challenge triggered the imbalance of cecal microbiota in broilers, dietary EA supplementation led to a small beneficial effect on microbiota, while the simultaneous effect of them seemed to stimulate the immune function of broilers by improving the microbiota balance.

Conclusions

Dietary EA ameliorated C. perfringens-induced SNE in broilers via regulating jejunal inflammation signaling pathways TLR/NF-κB and JAK3/STAT6, relieving jejunal oxidative stress and balancing cecal microbiota to inhibit intestinal barrier damage, prevent systemic inflammatory response and improve nutrient absorption capacity, finally protect and enhance growth performance of broilers.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40104-022-00694-3.

Limosilactobacillus reuteri in Health and Disease

Limosilactobacillus reuteri is a microorganism with valuable probiotic qualities that has been widely employed in humans to promote health. It is a well-studied probiotic bacterium that exerts beneficial health effects due to several metabolic mechanisms that enhance the production of anti-inflammatory cytochines and modulate the gut microbiota by the production of antimicrobial molecules, including reuterin. This review provides an overview of the data that support the role of probiotic properties, and the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects of some L. reuteri strains in relation to their metabolite production profile on the amelioration of many diseases and disorders. Although the results discussed in this paper are strain dependent, they show that L. reuteri, by different mechanisms and various metabolites, may control body weight and obesity, improve insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis, increase gut integrity and immunomodulation, and attenuate hepatic disorders. Gut microbiota modulation by ingesting probiotic L. reuteri strains could be a promising preventative and therapeutic approach against many diseases and disorders.

The Lactobacillus as a Probiotic: Focusing on Liver Diseases

Over the past decade, scientific evidence for the properties, functions, and beneficial effects of probiotics for humans has continued to accumulate. Interest in the use of probiotics for humans has increased tremendously. Among various microorganisms, probiotics using bacteria have been widely studied and commercialized, and, among them, Lactobacillus is representative. This genus contains about 300 species of bacteria (recently differentiated into 23 genera) and countless strains have been reported. They improved a wide range of diseases including liver disease, gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory diseases, and autoimmune diseases. Here, we intend to discuss in depth the genus Lactobacillus as a representative probiotic for chronic liver diseases.

The Qingchangligan Formula Alleviates Acute Liver Failure by Regulating Galactose Metabolism and Gut Microbiota

The Qingchangligan formula (QCLGF) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has significant clinical potential for patients with acute liver failure (ALF). However, the experimental evidence of the effect of QCLGF on ALF and the associated mechanisms remain elusive. We aimed to evaluate the function of QCLGF in ALF and the underlying mechanism. ALF was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of D-GalN (1100 mg/kg). The Qingchangligan formula was administered to the rats (6.725 g/kg · d) for 5 days, and the model group and the control group were given the same amount of physiological saline. Then 16S rRNA gene sequencing, high performance gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and RNA-seq analysis were performed on the samples. The levels of ALT and AST in the ALF rats were abnormal (5322.08 ± 566.27 U/L and 7655.95 ± 1238.08 U/L, respectively) compared with the normal control (98.98 ± 6.90 U/L and 99.63 ± 10.94 U/L, respectively). The levels of ALT and AST in the QCLGF rats (2997.67 ± 469.24 U/L and 4158.40 ± 596.07 U/L, respectively) were closer the normal control group. Liver HE staining showed that the degree of liver damage in the QCLGF rats was lighter than that in the ALF rats. The overall structure of the gut microbiota after ALF was significantly altered, including Proteobacteria, Blautia, Romboutsia, Parabacteroides, UCG-008, Parasutterella, Ruminococcus, norank_f:Lachnospiraceae, the Eubacterium_xylanophilum_group, Oscillibacter, and Eisenbergiella. QCLGF balanced the structure and abundance of intestinal flora. The levels of D(+)galactose, isopropyl beta-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside and D-mannitol were lighter in the plasma of the ALF rats than in the normal control rats, but there were significantly elevated levels of those metabolites in the QCLGF rats. The gene expression changed significantly in the ALF rats. QCLGF regulated the expression of THBS1 and the KEGG pathways of carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, signal transduction, the immune system, and infectious disease: bacterial. QCLGF may alleviating intestinal flora disorder, regulating galactose metabolism and downregulating the expression of THBS1 to alleviate D-GalN induced acute liver failure.

Pediococcus pentosaceus CECT 8330 protects DSS-induced colitis and regulates the intestinal microbiota and immune responses in mice

Background

Compelling evidences demonstrated that gut microbiota dysbiosis plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Therapies for targeting the microbiota may provide alternative options for the treatment of IBD, such as probiotics. Here, we aimed to investigate the protective effect of a probiotic strain, Pediococcus pentosaceus (P. pentosaceus) CECT 8330, on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice.

Methods

C57BL/6 mice were administered phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or P. pentosaceus CECT 8330 (5 × 10⁸ CFU/day) once daily by gavage for 5 days prior to or 2 days after colitis induction by DSS. Weight, fecal conditions, colon length and histopathological changes were examined. ELISA and flow cytometry were applied to determine the cytokines and regulatory T cells (Treg) ratio. Western blot was used to examine the tight junction proteins (TJP) in colonic tissues. Fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels and microbiota composition were analyzed by targeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, respectively. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Cluster of orthologous groups of proteins (COG) pathway analysis were used to predict the microbial functional profiles.

Results

P. pentosaceus CECT 8330 treatment protected DSS-induced colitis in mice as evidenced by reducing the weight loss, disease activity index (DAI) score, histological damage, and colon length shortening. P. pentosaceus CECT 8330 decreased the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), and increased level of IL-10 in DSS treated mice. P. pentosaceus CECT 8330 upregulated the expression of ZO-1, Occludin and the ratio of Treg cells in colon tissue. P. pentosaceus CECT 8330 increased the fecal SCFAs level and relative abundances of several protective bacteria genera, including norank_f_Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Dubosiella. Furthermore, the increased abundances of bacteria genera were positively correlated with IL-10 and SCFAs levels, and negatively associated with IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, respectively. The KEGG and COG pathway analysis revealed that P. pentosaceus CECT 8330 could partially recover the metabolic pathways altered by DSS.

Conclusions

P. pentosaceus CECT 8330 administration protects the DSS-induced colitis and modulates the gut microbial composition and function, immunological profiles, and the gut barrier function. Therefore, P. pentosaceus CECT 8330 may serve as a promising probiotic to ameliorate intestinal inflammation.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03235-8.

The role of probiotic exopolysaccharides in adhesion to mucin in different gastrointestinal conditions

The presence of exopolysaccharides (EPS), a type of biomacromolecules, on the surface of probiotics play an important role in mucoadhesion, and it can be severely influenced by environments during gastrointestinal transit. In this study, the impact of gastrointestinal factors on surface properties of two probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Pediococcus pentosaceus LI05) was investigated. Probiotic suspensions had relatively high viscosities and exhibited pronounced shear-thinning behavior due to the presence of EPS. The ζ-potential of both probiotics was relatively low and was not believed to play an important role in mucoadhesion. Compared to the control, the adhesive forces tended to decrease in the presence of gastric acids but increase in the presence of bile salts, since bile salts led to a thicker more open EPS layer compared to gastric acids. Although the functional groups of EPS in both probiotics are similar according to the study by FT-IR spectroscopy, the molecular weight of purified EPS in LI05 was much higher, ranging from 10,112 Da to 477,763 Da, which may contribute to higher rupture length in LI05 group. These results suggest that probiotic-mucin interactions are governed by the compositions and changes in the EPS of the probiotics in different gastrointestinal conditions, which contribute to a better understanding of the mucoadhesive behavior of the probiotics in the GIT.

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Simulated gastrointestinal fluids affected property of EPS, influencing the probiotic mucoadhesion.

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Higher molecular weight of EPS may contribute to enhanced rupture length.

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The morphology changes of probiotic EPS enhanced mucoadhesion by controlling the exposure of pili.

Role of Microbiota-Derived Metabolites in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases

Chronic liver disease encompasses diseases that have various causes, such as alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Gut microbiota dysregulation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of ALD and NAFLD through the gut-liver axis. The gut microbiota consists of various microorganisms that play a role in maintaining the homeostasis of the host and release a wide number of metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), peptides, and hormones, continually shaping the host's immunity and metabolism. The integrity of the intestinal mucosal and vascular barriers is crucial to protect liver cells from exposure to harmful metabolites and pathogen-associated molecular pattern molecules. Dysbiosis and increased intestinal permeability may allow the liver to be exposed to abundant harmful metabolites that promote liver inflammation and fibrosis. In this review, we introduce the metabolites and components derived from the gut microbiota and discuss their pathologic effect in the liver alongside recent advances in molecular-based therapeutics and novel mechanistic findings associated with the gut-liver axis in ALD and NAFLD.

Ameliorative effects of Lactobacillus against Aflatoxin B1

Lactobacilli are probiotics with Aflatoxin (AF) detoxification ability, found in fermented products, GIT of animals and environment. Purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of broiler isolates of Lactobacillus against Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). For this purpose, 5 isolates of Lactobacillus from broiler gut were incubated with 100 ppb AFB1 in aqueous environment and effect of different parameters (cell fractions, time, temperature, pH) on detoxification was determined by HPLC. The ameliorative effect of Lactobacillus salivarius (LS) against AFB1 was studied in broiler. The results revealed that LS (CR. 4) showed the best results (in vitro) as compared to other isolates (L. salivarius (CR. 3, CR, 4), L. agilis (CE. 2.1, CE. 3.1) and L. crispatus (CE. 28). Cell debris of CR. 4 showed significantly higher detoxification (P<0.05). Maximum amount of AFB1 was detoxified at 30°C (97%), pH 4.0 (99%) and 6 h (99.97%). In vivo study showed that AFB1 decreased weight gain (1,269 ± 0.04 gm/ bird), feed consumed (2,161 ± 0.08 gm/ bird), serum total protein (2.42 ± 0.34 gm/ dl), serum albumin (0.5 ± 0.2 2 gm/dl) and antibody titer (4.2 ± 0.83). Liver function enzymes were found (alanine transaminase (ALT): 32 ± 10.7 U/L) and aspartate transaminase (AST): 314.8 ± 27 U/L) elevated in AFB1 fed broilers. Treatment with 1% LS not only decreased the toxic effects of AFB1 (group D) but also improved the overall health of broilers due to its probiotic effects (p<0.05) as compared to control negative (group A). The detoxification ability of LS was better than commercial binder (CB) (0.2% Protmyc). It was concluded that detoxification of AFB1 by Lactobacillus was strain, temperature, pH and time dependent. LS has detoxification ability against AFB1 in vivo.

Dose-Dependent Relationship between Protection of Thioacetamide-Induced Acute Liver Injury and Hyperammonemia and Concentration of Lactobacillus salivarius Li01 in Mice

Recently, probiotics have been widely used as an adjuvant therapy to cure, prevent, or improve certain diseases. However, no research has been carried out into the dose of probiotics, especially the maximum dose. Therefore, the effective and safe dosage of probiotics needs to be studied. Recently, L. Yang, X. Bian, W. Wu, L. Lv, et al. (Microb Biotechnol 13:1860–1876, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.13629) discovered that Lactobacillus salivarius Li01 had a protective effect on thioacetamide-induced acute liver injury and hyperammonemia, and a fixed concentration (3 × 10⁹ CFU/mL) of L. salivarius Li01 was applied in their study. However, the most effective treatment concentration of L. salivarius Li01 remains unknown. Therefore, four concentration gradients of L. salivarius Li01 suspension were prepared for groups of mice to have different levels of bacterial colonization by gavage. Then, acute liver injury and hyperammonemia were induced via thioacetamide administration. By observation and detection, an inverted U-shaped protective effect from L. salivarius Li01 existed in thioacetamide-induced acute liver injury and hyperammonemia. Of note, significant deterioration was confirmed within the group that was orally administered with an excessive concentration of L. salivarius Li01 suspension, and this was attributed to endotoxemia that resulted from compromised immunity, a damaged intestinal barrier, and bacterial translocation.

IMPORTANCE This research investigated the relationship between the concentration of Lactobacillus salivarius Li01 and its impact on mice that had a thioacetamide-induced acute liver injury and hyperammonemia. These findings could provide new insights into the effective, proper, and safe use of probiotics.

Pediococcus pentosaceus: Screening and Application as Probiotics in Food Processing

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are vital probiotics in the food processing industry, which are widely spread in food additives and products, such as meat, milk, and vegetables. Pediococcus pentosaceus (P. pentosaceus), as a kind of LAB, has numerous probiotic effects, mainly including antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, and immune effects. Recently, the applications in the probiotic- fermentation products have attracted progressively more attentions. However, it is necessary to screen P. pentosaceus with abundant functions from diverse sources due to the limitation about the source and species of P. pentosaceus. This review summarized the screening methods of P. pentosaceus and the exploration methods of probiotic functions in combination with the case study. The screening methods included primary screening and rescreening including gastric acidity resistance, bile resistance, adhesion, antibacterial effects, etc. The application and development prospects of P. pentosaceus were described in detail, and the shortcomings in the practical application of P. pentosaceus were evaluated to make better application of P. pentosaceus in the future.

Ligilactobacillus salivarius functionalities, applications, and manufacturing challenges

Ligilactobacillus salivarius is a lactic acid bacteria that has been gaining attention as a promising probiotic. Numerous strains exhibit functional properties with health benefits such as antimicrobial activity, immunological effects, and the ability to modulate the intestinal microbiota. However, just a small number of them are manufactured at an industrial scale and included in commercial products. The under exploitation of L. salivarius strains that remain in the freezer of companies is due to their incapacity to overcome the environmental stresses induced by production and stabilization processes.The present study summarizes the functionalities and applications of L. salivarius reported to date. It aims also at providing a critical evaluation of the literature available on the manufacturing steps of L. salivarius concentrates, the bacterial quality after each step of the process, and the putative degradation and preservation mechanisms. Here, we highlight the principal issues and future research challenges for improving the production and long-term preservation at the industrial scale of this microorganism, and probably of other probiotics.Key points• L. salivarius beneficial properties and commercialized products.• Production conditions and viability of L. salivarius after stabilization processes.• Prospects for identifying preservation mechanisms to improve L. salivarius stability.

The synergy of dietary supplements Lactobacillus salivarius LI01 and Bifidobacterium longum TC01 in alleviating liver failure in rats treated with D-galactosamine

Lactobacillus salivarius (L. salivarius) has been widely used in dietary supplements and clinical treatments. Previous studies demonstrated the protective effect of L. salivarius LI01 on liver injury induced by D-galactosamine (D-GaIN) in rats. Accumulating evidence indicates that Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are highly coordinated; so in this study, we focus on the synergistic effect of L. salivarius LI01 and B. longum TC01 on the alleviation of liver injury caused by D-GaIN in rats and aim to find out the underlying interaction between the two strains. We observed reduced hepatic damage in the D-GaIN-treated rats with probiotic pre-administration, characterized by lower levels of AST and ALT (p < 0.05) and decreased HAI (Histological Activity Index) scores. Moreover, cotreatment with LI01 and TC01 more effectively decreases proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, MCP-1 and M-CSF (p < 0.05) so as to inhibit systemic inflammation. Gut barrier dysfunction was ameliorated with compound probiotic pretreatment, as evidenced by the ultrastructure integrity, decreased histological score and elevated TJP-1 expression. What's more, supplementation with LI01 and TC01 markedly alleviates gut dysbiosis in the G-DaIN-treated rats, with enrichment of short chain fatty acid (SCFA) producers Faecalibaculum and Eubacterium_xylanophilum_group, a decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio and depletion of proinflammatory microbes, such as Peptococcaeae and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005. This study highlights the synergistic effect of dietary supplements LI01 and TC01 on the protection against liver failure, which is probably via altering gut microbiota.

Effectiveness of Probiotics and Prebiotics Against Acute Liver Injury: A Meta-Analysis

Background and Aims: Acute liver injury (ALI) is a clinical syndrome characterized by rapid loss of liver function, which may progress to life-threatening liver failure. We conducted this meta-analysis to examine the evidence on the effects of probiotics or prebiotics on ALI.

Methods and Results: Several databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, were scrutinized from the inception through February 2021 by combining key search terms, yielding 26 eligible studies, which concluded that modulation of gut microbiota significantly decreased aspartate transaminase [standardized mean difference (SMD): −1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI): −2.03 to −1.00], alanine aminotransferase (SMD: −1.42, 95% CI: −1.85 to −0.98), and bilirubin (SMD: −0.91, 95% CI: −1.33 to −0.49). In addition, administration of probiotics or prebiotics also promoted proliferation of Bifidobacterium (SMD: 1.21, 95% CI: −0.18 to 2.60) and inhibited Enterococcus (SMD: −1.00, 95% CI: −1.39 to −0.61), contributing to lower levels of endotoxin (SMD: −2.14, 95% CI: −2.91 to −1.37). Tight junction protein ZO-1 (SMD: 1.95, 95% CI: 0.14 to 3.76) was upregulated after intervention, thereby reducing bacterial translocation to the liver [odds ratio (OR) = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.13–0.44] and mesenteric lymph node (OR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.26), with decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (SMD: −2.84, 95% CI: −3.76 to −1.93) and interleukin-6 (SMD: −2.62, 95% CI: −4.14 to −1.10). Oxidative stress was also relieved by reducing malondialdehyde (SMD: −1.83, 95% CI: −2.55 to −1.10) while elevating superoxide dismutase (SMD: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.00–2.55) and glutathione (SMD: 1.83, 95% CI: 0.76–2.91).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that probiotics and prebiotics could be a promising therapeutic strategy in ALI and possess a potential for clinical applications.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=255888, CRD42021255888.

Lactic acid bacteria alleviate liver damage caused by perfluorooctanoic acid exposure via antioxidant capacity, biosorption capacity and gut microbiota regulation

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is an environmental pollutant that has multiple toxic effects. Although some medicines and functional food ingredients are currently being used to alleviate the biological toxicity effects caused by PFOA, these candidates all show potential side effects and cannot prevent the accumulation of PFOA in the body, making them unable to be used as a daily dietary supplement to relieve the toxic effects of PFOA. However, new research has shown that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can alleviate toxicity caused by exposure to foreign substances. In this study, multiple strains of LAB with different adsorption capacities or antioxidant capacities were used to analyse their mitigation effects of on liver damage caused by PFOA exposure. The results showed that the adsorption capacity and antioxidant capacity of LAB could alleviate the liver toxicity of PFOA to a certain extent. Moreover, treatment with some strains of LAB was able to recover the gut microbiota dysbiosis caused by PFOA exposure, such as by increasing the relative abundances of Patescibacteria, Proteobacteria, Akkermansia and Alistipes or decreasing the abundances of Bacteroides and Blautia. In addition, a strain with neither outstanding antioxidant capacity nor adsorption capacity also reversed the decline in short-chain fatty acid levels caused by PFOA exposure. The ability of these strains to relieve gut microbiota dysbiosis partly explains the inconsistency between the capacity for antioxidant or PFOA adsorption and the ability of the strains to alleviate PFOA toxicity. The results indicate that the PFOA adsorption capacity and antioxidant capacity of LAB may be involved in the alleviation of PFOA liver toxicity. In addition, LAB could also alleviate liver damage caused by PFOA by adjusting the gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid content. Therefore, some strains of LAB can be used as a potentially safe dietary supplement to relieve PFOA-induced liver damage.

Improved functionality of Ligilactobacillus salivarius Li01 in alleviating colonic inflammation by layer-by-layer microencapsulation

The low viability during gastrointestinal transit and poor mucoadhesion considerably limits the effectiveness of Ligilactobacillus salivarius Li01 (Li01) in regulating gut microbiota and alleviating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, a delivery system was designed through layer-by-layer (LbL) encapsulating a single Li01cell with chitosan and alginate. The layers were strengthened by cross-linking to form a firm and mucoadhesive shell (~10 nm thickness) covering the bacterial cell. The LbL Li01 displayed improved viability under simulated gastrointestinal conditions and mucoadhesive function. Almost no cells could be detected among the free Li01 after 2 h incubation in digestive fluids, while for LbL Li01, the total reduction was around 3 log CFU/mL and the viable number of cells remained above 6 log CFU/mL. Besides, a 5-fold increase in the value of rupture length and a two-fold increase in the number of peaks were found in the (bacteria-mucin) adhesion curves of LbL Li01, compared to those of free Li01. Oral administration with LbL Li01 on colitis mice facilitated intestinal barrier recovery and restoration of the gut microbiota. The improved functionality of Li01 by LbL encapsulation could increase the potential for the probiotic to be used in clinical applications to treat IBD; this should be explored in future studies.

Regulating the gut microbiota and SCFAs in the faeces of T2DM rats should be one of antidiabetic mechanisms of mogrosides in the fruits of Siraitia grosvenorii

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The Siraitia grosvenorii fruits extract (SG, in which mogrosides are the main components), considered as a non-nutritional sweetener, has an antidiabetic effect. Our previous studies have confirmed that an extract of mogrosides being rich in triterpene glycosides with 1-3 glucosyl residues, designated as low-polar S. grosvenorii glycosides (L-SGgly), had a significant antidiabetic effect. However, whether the mechanism through impacting on gut microbiota to exert the antidiabetic effect of mogrosides remains unclear.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

To explore the potential mechanism of mogrosides (SG and L-SGgly) on gut microbiota and faecal metabolites in the treatment of diabetes.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

In this study, the effects of SG and L-SGgly on gut microbiota and faecal endogenous metabolites were explored by sequencing the 16S rRNA V3-V4 region of gut microbiota, and detecting with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight MS (LC-Q-TOF/MS), respectively. In particular, correlation analyses revealed how these influences affect the anti-hyperglycaemic effect, to give the underlying antidiabetic mechanisms of the mogrosides in S. grosvenorii fruits.

RESULTS

After a 14-day treatment with SG and L-SGgly for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ), the disordered gut microbiota in the faeces of T2DM rats were recovered. At the same time, the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentration significantly increased and the deoxycholic acid and 1β-hydroxycholic acid content decreased in the faeces of T2DM rats. Moreover, correlation analyses provided the evidences that gut microbiota and its metabolites could be the target for exerting the anti-hyperglycaemic effects of SG and L-SGgly. Especially, Elusimicrobium, Lachnospiraceae_UCG-004, acetate, butyrate, and 1β-hydroxycholic acid would be the potential dominant bacteria and biomarkers for SG and L-SGgly in reducing the blood glucose and insulin resistance of T2DM rats.

CONCLUSION

It is the first time that a mechanism of targeting on gut microbiota for the antidiabetic effect of mogrosides in S. grosvenorii fruits has been proposed.

Diet-Regulating Microbiota and Host Immune System in Liver Disease

The gut microbiota has been known to modulate the immune responses in chronic liver diseases. Recent evidence suggests that effects of dietary foods on health care and human diseases are related to both the immune reaction and the microbiome. The gut-microbiome and intestinal immune system play a central role in the control of bacterial translocation-induced liver disease. Dysbiosis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, translocation, endotoxemia, and the direct effects of metabolites are the main events in the gut-liver axis, and immune responses act on every pathways of chronic liver disease. Microbiome-derived metabolites or bacteria themselves regulate immune cell functions such as recognition or activation of receptors, the control of gene expression by epigenetic change, activation of immune cells, and the integration of cellular metabolism. Here, we reviewed recent reports about the immunologic role of gut microbiotas in liver disease, highlighting the role of diet in chronic liver disease.

Effects of Pediococcus pentosaceus LI05 on immunity and metabolism in germ-free rats

Many Pediococcus spp. have health-promoting benefits, and Pediococcus pentosaceus LI05 is one such species that was proved to be beneficial in previous studies. Our research aimed to determine the immune and metabolic effects of P. pentosaceus LI05 on germ-free rats. Germ-free rats were gavaged with P. pentosaceus LI05 suspensions (1 × 10⁹ CFU) for 2 weeks, and 3 weeks later, blood, spleen, intestine and liver samples were gathered for metabolome, intestine morphology, immunity, and transcriptomics analyses. Oral gavage of P. pentosaceus LI05 reduced the bodyweight of rats, which manifested as increased fecal carbohydrate concentrations, decreased intestinal fat intake and the hepatic fat synthesis gene expression, and accelerated fat-to-glycogen conversion. In addition, P. pentosaceus LI05 exhibited an anti-inflammatory ability, reducing serum proinflammatory cytokine levels and increasing intestinal subepidermal CD4⁺ cell levels. Furthermore, administration of P. pentosaceus LI05 increased the antimicrobial ability and enhanced the liver detoxification function. These results indicate that as a probiotic, P. pentosaceus LI05 ameliorates the hampered immune response of GF animals and improves the metabolism of fat and toxic substances.

Gut microbiota in mental health and depression: role of pre/pro/synbiotics in their modulation

The microbiome residing in the human gut performs a wide range of biological functions. Recently, it has been elucidated that a change in dietary habits is associated with alteration in the gut microflora which results in increased health risks and vulnerability towards various diseases. Falling in line with the same concept, depression has also been shown to increase its prevalence around the globe, especially in the western world. Various research studies have suggested that changes in the gut microbiome profile further result in decreased tolerance of stress. Although currently available medications help in relieving the symptoms of depressive disorders briefly, these drugs are not able to completely reverse the multifactorial pathology of depression. The discovery of the communication pathway between gut microbes and the brain, i.e. the Gut-Brain Axis, has led to new areas of research to find more effective and safer alternatives to current antidepressants. The use of probiotics and prebiotics has been suggested as being effective in various preclinical studies and clinical trials for depression. Therefore, in the present review, we address the new antidepressant mechanisms via gut microbe alterations and provide insight into how these can provide an alternative to antidepressant therapy without the side effects and risk of adverse drug reactions.

The role of the gut microbiome in graft fibrosis after pediatric liver transplantation

Liver transplantation (LT) is a life-saving option for children with end-stage liver disease. However, about 50% of patients develop graft fibrosis in 1 year after LT, with normal liver function. Graft fibrosis may progress to cirrhosis, resulting in graft dysfunction and ultimately the need for re-transplantation. Previous studies have identified various risk factors for the post-LT fibrogenesis, however, to date, neither of the factors seems to fully explain the cause of graft fibrosis. Recently, evidence has accumulated on the important role of the gut microbiome in outcomes after solid organ transplantation. As an altered microbiome is present in pediatric patients with end-stage liver diseases, we hypothesize that the persisting alterations in microbial composition or function contribute to the development of graft fibrosis, for example by bacteria translocation due to increased intestinal permeability, imbalanced bile acids metabolism, and/or decreased production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Subsequently, an immune response can be activated in the graft, together with the stimulation of fibrogenesis. Here we review current knowledge about the potential mechanisms by which alterations in microbial composition or function may lead to graft fibrosis in pediatric LT and we provide prospective views on the efficacy of gut microbiome manipulation as a therapeutic target to alleviate the graft fibrosis and to improve long-term survival after LT.

Pediococcus pentosaceus B49 from human colostrum ameliorates constipation in mice

Constipation is a prevalent and burdensome gastrointestinal (GI) disorder that seriously affects the quality of human life. This study evaluated the effects of the P. pentosaceus B49 (from human colostrum) on loperamide (Lop)-induced constipation in mice. Mice were given P. pentosaceus B49 (5 × 109 CFU or 5 × 1010 CFU) by gavage daily for 14 days. The result shows that P. pentosaceus B49 treatment relieved constipation in mice by shortening the defecation time, increasing the GI transit rate and stool production. Compared with the constipation control group, the P. pentosaceus B49-treated groups showed decreased serum levels of inhibitory neurotransmitters (vasoactive intestinal peptide and nitric oxide), increased serum levels of excitatory neurotransmitters (acetylcholinesterase, motilin, and gastrin), and elevated cecal concentration of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Analysis of cecal microbiota reveals that P. pentosaceus B49 was colonized in the intestine of constipated mice, and altered the cecal microbiota by increasing beneficial SCFAs-producing bacteria (i.e., Lactobacillus, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, and Bacteroidales_S24-7) and decreasing potential pathogenic bacteria (i.e., Staphylococcus and Helicobacter). Moreover, transcriptome analysis of the colon tissue shows that P. pentosaceus B49 partly normalized the expression of genes related to GI peristalsis (i.e., Ache, Chrm2, Slc18a3, Grp, and Vip), water and electrolyte absorption and transport (i.e., Aqp4, Aqp8, and Atp12a), while down-regulating the expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-oncogenic genes (i.e., Lbp, Lgals2, Bcl2, Bcl2l15, Gsdmc2, and Olfm4) in constipated mice. Our findings indicate that P. pentosaceus B49 effectively relieves constipation in mice and is a promising candidate for treating constipation.

Obeticholic Acid Inhibits Anxiety via Alleviating Gut Microbiota-Mediated Microglia Accumulation in the Brain of High-Fat High-Sugar Diet Mice

Anxiety is one of the complications of metabolic disorders (MDs). Obeticholic acid (OCA), the bile acids (BAs) derivative, is a promising agent for improving MDs in association with gut dysbiosis. Yet, its protective effect on MDs-driven anxiety remains unknown. Here, we assessed the serum biochemical parameters and behavioral performance by open field and Morris water maze tests in HFHS diet-induced MDs mice after OCA intervention for nine and 18 weeks. Moreover, antibiotics intervention for microbial depletion was conducted simultaneously. We found that OCA treatment inhibited the initiation and progression of anxiety in HFHS diet-MDs mice via a microbiota–BAs–brain axis: OCA decreased the neuroinflammatory microglia and IL-1β expression in the hippocampus, reversed intestinal barrier dysfunction and serum proinflammatory LPS to a normal level, modified the microbial community, including the known anxiety-related Rikenellaceae and Alistipes, and improved the microbial metabolites especially the increased BAs in feces and circulation. Moreover, the OCA-reversed bile acid taurocholate linked disordered serum lipid metabolites and indole derivatives to anxiety as assessed by network analysis. Additionally, microbial depletion with antibiotics also improved the anxiety, microgliosis and BAs enrichment in the experimental MDs mice. Together, these findings provide microbiota–BAs–brain axis as a novel therapeutic target for MDs-associated neuropsychiatric disorders.

Pediococcus pentosaceus, a future additive or probiotic candidate

Background

Pediococcus pentosaceus, a promising strain of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), is gradually attracting attention, leading to a rapid increase in experimental research. Due to increased demand for practical applications of microbes, the functional and harmless P. pentosaceus might be a worthwhile LAB strain for both the food industry and biological applications.

Results

As an additive, P. pentosaceus improves the taste and nutrition of food, as well as the storage of animal products. Moreover, the antimicrobial abilities of Pediococcus strains are being highlighted. Evidence suggests that bacteriocins or bacteriocin-like substances (BLISs) produced by P. pentosaceus play effective antibacterial roles in the microbial ecosystem. In addition, various strains of P. pentosaceus have been highlighted for probiotic use due to their anti-inflammation, anticancer, antioxidant, detoxification, and lipid-lowering abilities.

Conclusions

Therefore, it is necessary to continue studying P. pentosaceus for further use. Thorough study of several P. pentosaceus strains should clarify the benefits and drawbacks in the future.

Lactobacillus plantarum KLDS1.0344 and Lactobacillus acidophilus KLDS1.0901 Mixture Prevents Chronic Alcoholic Liver Injury in Mice by Protecting the Intestinal Barrier and Regulating Gut Microbiota and Liver-Related Pathways

Health and wellbeing are significantly impaired by alcoholic liver disease (ALD), and although some lactic acid bacteria strains have been shown previously to relieve ALD symptoms, the mechanisms behind these effects are still unclear. Here, the Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet containing alcohol was fed to C57BL/6J mice for 6 weeks to build a chronic alcoholic liver lesion model to study the protective effects and possible mechanisms of Lactobacillus mixture (Lactobacillus plantarum KLDS1.0344 and Lactobacillus acidophilus KLDS1.0901). The results showed that Lactobacillus mixture improved intestinal epithelial permeability and reduced the serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. Furthermore, Lactobacillus mixture inhibited liver lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation by regulating AMPK, Nrf-2, and TLR4/NF-κB pathways. Importantly, the Lactobacillus mixture modulated the gut microbiota, resulting in increased short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producers and decreased Gram-negative bacteria. Taken together, these findings indicated that the Lactobacillus mixture could positively regulate the gut microbiota, causing increased levels of SCFAs, which inhibited alcohol-induced liver lipid accumulation and oxidative stress through the gut-liver axis. Moreover, following administration of the Lactobacillus mixture, the improvement of intestinal epithelial permeability and the reduction of Gram-negative bacteria led to the decrease of LPS entering the portal vein, thereby inhibiting alcohol-induced liver inflammation.

Effect of water extracts from Cynanchum thesioides (Freyn) K. Schum. on visceral hypersensitivity and gut microbiota profile in maternally separated rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic, stress-related, functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal discomfort and altered bowel habits; the manipulation of the microbiota is emerging as a promising therapeutic option for IBS. Cynanchum thesioides (CT) is an herb of traditional Mongolian medicine that has been employed in treating abdominal pain and diarrhea for hundreds of years. Phytochemical studies of this plant showed the presence of various flavonoids with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. We hypothesized that Cynanchum thesioides manipulates the gut mycobiome and reverses visceral hypersensitivity in IBS rat model.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The aims of this study were to prove the in vivo efficacy of Cynanchum thesioides on improving visceral hypersensitivity in IBS rat model and to examine its effect on gut bacterial communities, focusing on the potential interrelationships among microbiota and visceral hypersensitivity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We induced visceral hypersensitivity rat models by maternal separation (MS) of Sprague-Dawley rats, and administered CT water extracts to MS rats for 10 consecutive days. The abdominal withdrawal reflex score and threshold of colorectal distention were employed to assess visceral sensitivity. We then used the Illumina HiSeq platform to analyze bacterial 16S rRNA gene.

RESULTS

Treatment with CT improved visceral hypersensitivity in MS rats, and this was accompanied by alterations in the structure and composition of the gut microbiota. The extent of the stability of the gut microbiota was improved after treatment with CT. The genera Pseudomonas, Lachnospiracea_incertae_sedis, and Clostridium XlVa (which were more prevalent in MS rats) were significantly decreased, whereas the abundance of some genera were less prevalent in MS rats-for example, Clostridium IV, Elusimicrobium, Clostridium_sensu_stricto, and Acetatifactor were significantly enriched after treatment with CT.

CONCLUSION

Water-extracted CT was beneficial against visceral hypersensitivity in IBS and favorably affected the structure, composition, and functionality of gut microbiota. CT is therefore a promising agent in therapy of IBS.

Scutellarein Aggravated Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Chronic Liver Injury in Gut Microbiota-Dysbiosis Mice

Scutellarein (SCU) is an herbal flavonoid, showing hepatoprotective potentials. The study was aimed to investigate whether the hepatoprotective effect of SCU is dependent on the integrity of gut microbiota. Mice received repeated intraperitoneal injections of CCl₄, followed with or without SCU treatment (15, 30, and 60 mg/kg). Gut microbial community of mice was disrupted by administrating a cocktail of antibiotics (ampicillin, neomycin sulfate, metronidazole, and vancomycin) in drinking water. The results showed SCU plus antibiotics aggravated CCl₄-induced chronic liver injury, as demonstrated by liver function analysis, histological analysis, and TUNEL assay. SCU activated CYP2E1 expression and worsened CYP2E1-mediated lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress as coadministered with antibiotics. Moreover, when gut microbiota was disrupted by antibiotics, SCU activated IκBα/NF-κB pathway and promoted the release of subsequent proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Remarkably, the 16 S rRNA sequencing demonstrated that SCU greatly decreased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus and increased the relative abundance of Enterococcus in gut microbiota-dysbiosis mice. Spearman correlation analysis showed that Lactobacillus was positively correlated with SOD and negatively correlated with AST. Collectively, the hepatoprotective effect of SCU is reversed under antibiotics intervention, which may partly involve the activation of CYP2E1 and IκBα/NF-κB pathway and diminishment of Lactobacillus.

The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Liver Cirrhosis Treatment

Liver cirrhosis is one of the most prevalent chronic liver diseases worldwide. In addition to viral hepatitis, diseases such as steatohepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis and Wilson's disease can also lead to cirrhosis. Moreover, alcohol can cause cirrhosis on its own and exacerbate chronic liver disease of other causes. The treatment of cirrhosis can be divided into addressing the cause of cirrhosis and reversing liver fibrosis. To this date, there is still no clear consensus on the treatment of cirrhosis. Recently, there has been a lot of interest in potential treatments that modulate the gut microbiota and gut-liver axis for the treatment of cirrhosis. According to recent studies, modulation of the gut microbiome by probiotics ameliorates the progression of liver disease. The precise mechanism for relieving cirrhosis via gut microbial modulation has not been identified. This paper summarizes the role and effects of the gut microbiome in cirrhosis based on experimental and clinical studies on absorbable antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics. Moreover, it provides evidence of a relationship between the gut microbiome and liver fibrosis.

Host miRNA-21 promotes liver dysfunction by targeting small intestinal Lactobacillus in mice

New evidence shows that host-microbiota crosstalk can be modulated via endogenous miRNAs. We have previously reported that miR-21 ablation protects against liver injury in cholestasis. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-21 in modulating the gut microbiota during cholestasis and its effects in liver dysfunction. Mice lacking miR-21 had reduced liver damage and were protected against small intestinal injury as well as from gut microbiota dysbiosis when subjected to bile duct ligation surgery. The unique microbiota profile of miR-21KO mice was characterized by an increase in Lactobacillus, a key microbiome genus for gut homeostasis. Interestingly, in vitro incubation of synthetic miR-21 directly reduced Lactobacillus load. Moreover, supplementation with Lactobacillus reuteri revealed reduced liver fibrosis in acute bile duct-ligated mice, mimicking the protective effects in miR-21 knockout mice. D-lactate, a main product of Lactobacillus, regulates gut homeostasis that may link with reduced liver fibrosis. Altogether, our results demonstrate that miR-21 promotes liver dysfunction through direct modulation of the gut microbiota and highlight the potential therapeutic effects of Lactobacillus supplementation in gut and liver homeostasis.

Human mesenchymal stem cells treatment improved hepatic lesions and reversed gut microbiome disorder in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Effective therapies for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are urgently needed. We investigated the effect of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on the intestinal flora in NASH treatment. We isolated the hMSCs from the umbilical cords and divided male C57BL/6 mice into three groups, namely, chow, methionine-choline-deficient (MCD), and MCD+hMSCs. After collecting the feces and liver of the mice, we evaluated the histological changes in the liver and measured the inflammatory and fibrogenesis cytokines. Fecal microbiome and metabolome were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses. The hMSCs treatment could alleviate hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis induced by MCD diet. It could also reverse the microbiome and metabolome disorders in the NASH model. Correlation analysis of the interaction among bacteria amplified the effects of the bacteria in host. In conclusion, hMSCs treatment could improve NASH-related lesions and reverse gut microbiome and metabolome disorder in NASH.