Anti-Inflammatory Properties of MSF, a Lactiplantibacillus plantarum K8 Lysate Fermented with Filipendula glaberrima Extract

MSF Enhances Human Antimicrobial Peptide β-Defensin (HBD2 and HBD3) Expression and Attenuates Inflammation via the NF-κB and p38 Signaling Pathways

Both defensin and inflammation are part of the human innate immune system that responds rapidly to pathogens. The combination of defensins with pro- or anti-inflammatory effects can be a potential research direction for the treatment of infection by pathogens. This study aimed to identify whether MSF (Miracle Synergy material made using Filipendula glaberrima), a probiotic lysate of Filipendula glaberrima extracts fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum K8, activates the expression of human β-defensin (HBD2 and HBD3) to protect the host against pathogens and inhibit inflammation caused by S. aureus, in vitro with Western blot analysis, qRT-PCR and in vivo studies with a mouse model were used to evaluate the effects of MSF. The MSF treatment induced HBD2 and HBD3 expression via the p38 and NF-κB pathways. Furthermore, MSF treatment significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8), also through p38 and NF-κB in S. aureus-induced inflammatory condition. MSF treatment remarkably reduced erythema in mice ears caused by the injection of S. aureus, while K8 lysate treatment did not initiate a strong recovery. Taken together, MSF induced the expression of HBD2 and HDB3 and activated anti-inflammatory activity more than the probiotic lysates of L. plantarum K8. These findings show that MSF is a potential defensin inducer and anti-inflammatory agent.

Lactobacillus plantarum HNU082 alleviates dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis in mice through regulating gut microbiome

Probiotics have shown good efficacy in the prevention of ulcerative colitis (UC), but the specific mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, shotgun metagenomic and transcriptome analyses were performed to explore the preventive effect of a potential probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum HNU082 (Lp082) on UC and its specific mechanism. The results showed that Lp082 intervention ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice, which was manifested in the increase in body weight, water intake, food intake, and colon length and the decrease in the DAI index, immune organ index, inflammatory factors and histopathological scores after Lp082 intake. The mechanism is deeply studied and it is discovered that Lp082 improves the intestinal mucosal barrier by co-optimizing biological barriers, chemical barriers, mechanical barriers, and immune barriers. Specifically, Lp082 improved the biological barrier by increasing the diversity, optimizing the species composition and the structure of the gut microbiota, increasing bacteria producing short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and activating microbial metabolic pathways producing SCFAs so as to enhance the content of SCFAs. Lp082 optimized the chemical barrier by decreasing the mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM and by increasing the content of goblet cells and the mRNA expression and immunofluorescent protein content of mucin2. Lp082 ameliorated the mechanical barrier by decreasing the mRNA expression of claudin-1 and claudin-2, and by increasing the mRNA expression of ZO-1 and ZO-2 and the immunofluorescent protein content of ZO-1. Lp082 also optimized the immune barrier by increasing the mRNA expression of IL-10, TGF-β1, and TGF-β2 and by decreasing the mRNA expression and protein contents of IL-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). In addition, Lp082 can also regulate the metabolic pathways of inflammation and disease in mice, and notably, Lp082 inhibits the NF-κB signaling pathway by inhibiting NF-κB signaling molecules to alleviate UC. In conclusion, improving gut microbiota dysbiosis, protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier, regulating inflammatory and disease pathways, and affecting neutrophil infiltration are the potential mechanisms of probiotic Lp082 in alleviating UC. Our study enriches the mechanism and provides a new prospect for Lactobacillus plantarum HNU082 in the prevention of colitis, provides support for the development of probiotic-based microbial products as an alternative prevention strategy for UC, and provides guidance for the future probiotic prevention of human colitis.