Longum BAA-999 and Lycopene Modulates IGF-1/IGF-1R/IGFBP3 Protein Expressions in a Colorectal Murine Model

Probiotic Consortia Protect the Intestine Against Radiation Injury by Improving Intestinal Epithelial Homeostasis

PURPOSE

Radiation-induced intestinal injury (RIII) commonly occur during abdominal-pelvic cancer radiation therapy; however, no effective prophylactic or therapeutic agents are available to manage RIII currently. This study aimed to clarify the potential of probiotic consortium supplementation in alleviating RIII.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Male C57BL/6J mice were orally administered a probiotic mixture comprising Bifidobacterium longum BL21, Lactobacillus paracasei LC86, and Lactobacillus plantarum Lp90 for 30 days before exposure to 13 Gy of whole abdominal irradiation. The survival rates, clinical scores, and histologic changes in the intestines of mice were assessed. The impacts of probiotic consortium treatment on intestinal stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and epithelial barrier function; oxidative stress; and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. A comprehensive examination of the gut microbiota composition was conducted through 16S rRNA sequencing, while changes in metabolites were identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

The probiotic consortium alleviated RIII, as reflected by increased survival rates, improved clinical scores, and mitigated mucosal injury. The probiotic consortium treatment exhibited enhanced therapeutic effects at the histologic level compared with individual probiotic strains, although there was no corresponding improvement in survival rates and colon length. Moreover, the probiotic consortium stimulated intestinal stem cell proliferation and differentiation, enhanced the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier, and regulated redox imbalance and inflammatory responses in irradiated mice. Notably, the treatment induced a restructuring of the gut microbiota composition, particularly enriching short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria. Metabolomic analysis revealed distinctive metabolic changes associated with the probiotic consortium, including elevated levels of anti-inflammatory and antiradiation metabolites.

CONCLUSIONS

The probiotic consortium attenuated RIII by modulating the gut microbiota and metabolites, improving inflammatory symptoms, and regulating oxidative stress. These findings provide new insights into the maintenance of intestinal health with probiotic consortium supplementation and will facilitate the development of probiotic-based therapeutic strategies for RIII in clinical practice.

Relationship between triglyceride-glucose index and endometriosis: a cross-sectional analysis

BACKGROUND

The link between insulin resistance and endometriosis is not well established. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index serves as a straightforward and economical indicator of insulin resistance. This study examines the link between the TyG index and the prevalence of endometriosis in a U.S.

COHORT

METHODS

This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the NHANES conducted between 1999 and 2006. Reproductive health was assessed through questionnaires, and the TyG index was derived from fasting triglyceride and glucose measurements. Weighted logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between the TyG index and endometriosis. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves explored the linear relationship, while stratified and sensitivity analyses assessed potential interactions and the robustness of the findings.

RESULTS

The study included 2,346 women, with 176 diagnosed with endometriosis and 2,170 without. Women with endometriosis exhibited an elevated TyG index compared to those without the condition. The weighted logistic regression analysis revealed that the TyG index is an independent risk factor for endometriosis (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.17-2.14, p = 0.004). RCS analysis indicated a significant positive linear association between the TyG index and endometriosis, with a turning point at 8.51. Subgroup analysis indicated a stronger association in certain populations. The post-propensity score matching analysis confirmed the robustness of these findings.

CONCLUSION

In the U.S. population, a higher TyG index is positively and linearly associated with endometriosis prevalence. Effective management of blood glucose and lipid levels may reduce the prevalence of endometriosis.

Bifidobacterium longum suppresses colorectal cancer through the modulation of intestinal microbes and immune function

Colorectal cancer (CRC), one of the most common malignancies in the world, urgently requires more treatment strategies. Although there has been much research on probiotics, limited research has been done in treating cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) in the prevention and treatment of CRC. Through Cell Counting Kit-8 and Colony Formation Assays, 8 h and a B. longum count of 1 × 108 CFU/ml were chosen as the best cocultivation conditions with CRC cells. The role of B. longum in inhibiting the progression of CRC cells was verified by a series of functional and immunofluorescence assays. For instance, in vivo assays have verified that B. longum could alleviate CRC progression. In addition, according to the results of in vivo assays and clinical statistical analysis, B. longum could reduce diarrhea symptoms. Mechanistically, by 16S and RNA sequencing, it was found that B. longum could affect the development of CRC by regulating the composition of gut microbes and enhancing immune function. The B. longum might inhibit the occurrence and development of CRC and relieve diarrhea symptoms by regulating intestinal microbes and immune function.

A Probiotic Formula for Modulation of Colorectal Cancer Risk via Reducing CRC-Associated Bacteria

Gut microbiota dysbiosis with increased pathogenic bacteria and decreased beneficial bacteria is associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) development. This study examined the effect of a newly developed probiotic formula in modulating CRC-related bacteria. We developed a probiotic formula containing three bifidobacteria (B. adolescentis, B. longum, and B. bifidum) based on the identification of bacterial species that showed significant correlations with CRC-related bacteria including Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Lachnoclostridium sp. m3, Clostridium hathewayi (Ch), and Bacteroides clarus (Bc). We co-cultured Fn with each bifidobacterium or the combined formula and examined the growth of Fn by qPCR. The three individual bifidobacteria significantly inhibited the growth of Fn compared to the control treatment (24~65% inhibition; all p < 0.001). The combination of the three bifidobacteria showed a greater inhibitory effect on Fn growth (70% inhibition) than the individual bifidobacteria (all p < 0.05). We further examined the effect of the probiotic formula in a pilot study of 72 subjects (40 on probiotics; 32 with no intervention) for 4 weeks and followed them up for 12 weeks. The relative fecal abundances of the bifidobacteria in the formula and the CRC-related markers (Fn, m3, Ch, and Bc) were quantitated by qPCR before and after the intervention, and the combined CRC risk score (4Bac; Fn, m3, Ch, and Bc) was evaluated. Subjects with probiotics intervention showed significantly increased abundances of the bifidobacteria from week 2 to week 5 compared to baseline (p < 0.05), and the abundances dropped to baseline levels after the cessation of the intervention. There were significant decreases in the levels of CRC-related markers (Fn and m3) and the CRC risk score (4Bac) from week 2 to week 12 compared to baseline levels (p < 0.05) in the intervention group but not in the control group. A novel probiotic formula containing B. adolescentis, B. longum, and B. bifidum was effective in inhibiting the growth of F. nucleatum in vitro and improving the gut microbial environment against CRC development.

The Effect of Dietary Factors on Cancer

The effects of dietary factors on cancer have been widely studied for several decades [...]

Precise oral delivery systems for probiotics: A review

Probiotics have several health benefits to the host. However, low pH in the stomach, various digestive enzymes and bile salts in the intestine threaten their viability and function. Thus, probiotics need to be protected during gastric transit to address challenges associated with low viability and impaired function. At present, probiotic delivery systems with different trigger mechanisms have been constructed to successfully introduce numerous high-viability probiotics to the intestine. On this basis, the application of non-targeted/targeted probiotic delivery systems in different gut microenvironment and the adjuvant therapeutic effect of probiotic delivery systems on other disease were discussed in detail. It is important to also note that most of the current studies in this area focused on non-targeted probiotic delivery systems. Moreover, changes in intestinal microenvironment under disease state and discontinuous distribution of disease site limit their development. Thus, emphasis were made on the optimization of non-targeted probiotic delivery systems and the necessity of designing more precisely targeted ones.

The Insulin-like Growth Factor System and Colorectal Cancer

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are peptides which exert mitogenic, endocrine and cytokine activities. Together with their receptors, binding proteins and associated molecules, they participate in numerous pathophysiological processes, including cancer development. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a disease with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide, whose etiology usually represents a combination of the environmental and genetic factors. IGFs are most often increased in CRC, enabling excessive autocrine/paracrine stimulation of the cell growth. Overexpression or increased activation/accessibility of IGF receptors is a coinciding step which transmits IGF-related signals. A number of molecules and biochemical mechanisms exert modulatory effects shaping the final outcome of the IGF-stimulated processes, frequently leading to neoplastic transformation in the case of irreparable disbalance. The IGF system and related molecules and pathways which participate in the development of CRC are the focus of this review.

Recombinant Bifidobacterium longum Carrying Endostatin Protein Alleviates Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis and Colon Cancer in Rats

Bifidobacterium has been widely administrated orally as probiotics to prevent pathogen colonization and modulate the gut microbiome balance. Endostatin is an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis and has been shown to inhibit tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. At present, the combination of endostatin and chemotherapeutic drugs has been regarded as a promising antitumor treatment strategy. In this study, we selected a safe strain of Bifidobacterium longum as a delivery system to transport endostatin to the gastrointestinal tract and explored their combined effect on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis-associated cancer. The results indicated that B. longum-Endo relieved dextran sulfate sodium-induced body weight loss, diarrhea, colon shortening, and epithelium damage. Long-term oral administration of B. longum-Endo significantly decreased tumor formation rate, tumor number, and tumor size. Moreover, the effect of B. longum-Endo on gut microbiota dysbiosis was also confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. The levels of potentially beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Allobaculum, and Parabateroides, were increased in the B. longum-Endo group compared to the model and B. longum groups. Meanwhile, levels of potentially pathogenic bacteria including Desulfovibrio, Helicobacter, and Enterorhabdus were decreased. Taken together, these results suggested that oral administration of recombinant B. longum-Endo strain may be a promising therapeutic strategy for IBD and colitis-associated cancer.

An Update on the Effects of Probiotics on Gastrointestinal Cancers

Because of their increasing prevalence, gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are regarded as an important global health challenge. Microorganisms residing in the human GI tract, termed gut microbiota, encompass a large number of living organisms. The role of the gut in the regulation of the gut-mediated immune responses, metabolism, absorption of micro- and macro-nutrients and essential vitamins, and short-chain fatty acid production, and resistance to pathogens has been extensively investigated. In the past few decades, it has been shown that microbiota imbalance is associated with the susceptibility to various chronic disorders, such as obesity, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, psychiatric disorders, and various types of cancer. Emerging evidence has shown that oral administration of various strains of probiotics can protect against cancer development. Furthermore, clinical investigations suggest that probiotic administration in cancer patients decreases the incidence of postoperative inflammation. The present review addresses the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of action of probiotics against GI cancers. The safety of the most commercial probiotic strains has been confirmed, and therefore these strains can be used as adjuvant or neo-adjuvant treatments for cancer prevention and improving the efficacy of therapeutic strategies. Nevertheless, well-designed clinical studies are still needed for a better understanding of the properties and mechanisms of action of probiotic strains in mitigating GI cancer development.

The Role of Gut Microbial β-Glucuronidase in Estrogen Reactivation and Breast Cancer

Over the past decade, the gut microbiota has received considerable attention for its interactions with the host. Microbial β-glucuronidase generated by this community has hence aroused concern for its biotransformation activity to a wide range of exogenous (foreign) and endogenous compounds. Lately, the role of gut microbial β-glucuronidase in the pathogenesis of breast cancer has been proposed for its estrogen reactivation activity. This is plausible considering that estrogen glucuronides are the primary products of estrogens' hepatic phase II metabolism and are subject to β-glucuronidase-catalyzed hydrolysis in the gut via bile excretion. However, research in this field is still at its very preliminary stage. This review outlines the biology of microbial β-glucuronidase in the gastrointestinal tract and elaborates on the clues to the existence of microbial β-glucuronidase-estrogen metabolism-breast cancer axis. The research gaps in this field will be discussed and possible strategies to address these challenges are suggested.

New Insights into Molecular Mechanism behind Anti-Cancer Activities of Lycopene

Lycopene is a well-known compound found commonly in tomatoes which brings wide range of health benefits against cardiovascular diseases and cancers. From an anti-cancer perspective, lycopene is often associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer and people often look for it as a dietary supplement which may help to prevent cancer. Previous scientific evidence exhibited that the anti-cancer activity of lycopene relies on its ability to suppress oncogene expressions and induce proapoptotic pathways. To further explore the real potential of lycopene in cancer prevention, this review discusses the new insights and perspectives on the anti-cancer activities of lycopene which could help to drive new direction for research. The relationship between inflammation and cancer is being highlighted, whereby lycopene suppresses cancer via resolution of inflammation are also discussed herein. The immune system was found to be a part of the anti-cancer system of lycopene as it modulates immune cells to suppress tumor growth and progression. Lycopene, which is under the family of carotenoids, was found to play special role in suppressing lung cancer.

Effect of Lycopene on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Growth by Inhibiting IGF1 Pathway

Purpose

Lycopene has produced robust clinical effects and shows a promising chemopreventive in the oral cancer and precancerous lesions. However, much is still unknown about its mechanisms of the carotenoid in protecting against oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) pathway serves as a key regulatory signal pathway in the tumor microenvironment, which may be associated with the angiogenesis, tumorigenicity, and cancer proliferation. The current study was focused on elucidating the potential pathway played for lycopene to exert its function in treating with OSCC.

Materials and Methods

Firstly, we explored the dose- and time-response of CAL-27 and WSU-HN6 cells to lycopene. Both cells were incubated with various concentrations of lycopene (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 µM). The inhibiting rate of cell proliferation was assessed using MTT assay. To observe the regulating effect of lycopene on OSCC, cell migration, apoptosis and tumor formation were detected in vitro and in vivo. The potential signaling pathways of OSCC cells treated with lycopene were analyzed by Affymetrix microarrays. And then, we investigated the changing of IGF1 signaling pathway, on the protein levels of tumor tissue after lycopene.

Results

Cell proliferation was inhibited by lycopene in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The optimum inhibition efficiencies for OSCC cells were also found. Further, the results also demonstrated that pre-treatment of OSCC with lycopene drastically induced cell apoptosis suppresses cell migration and tumor growth. Mechanistically, ingenuity pathway analysis further revealed that IGF1 pathway participate in killing effects on OSCC after treatment of lycopene. Lycopene may inhibit the pathway by regulating protein expression of IGF1, IGF binding protein (BP) 1, IGFBP3, transcription factor Jun/AP-1 (JUN), and forkhead box O1 (FOXO1).

Conclusion

These observations indicate that lycopene regulates OSCC cell growth by inhibiting IGF1 pathway, which may be a promising agent for the treatment of OSCC.

The effect of synbiotic on glycemic profile and sex hormones in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors following a weight-loss diet: A randomized, triple-blind, controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The investigation was designed to assess the effects of synbiotic supplementation on glycemic profile, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and sex hormones in overweight and obese postmenopausal breast cancer survivors (BCSs) who had hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.

METHODS

This randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 76 overweight and obese BCSs aged 57.43 (5.82) years. All participants were given a specified low calorie diet and were randomly assigned into two groups to intake 10⁹ CFU/day of synbiotic supplement (n = 38) or placebo (n = 38) for 8 weeks. Body composition, physical activity, glycemic profile, IGF-1, estradiol, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in serum insulin (median change (Q1, Q3) from baseline of -1.05 (-2.36, 0.32) μIU/mL; P = 0.006) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (mean change (SD) from baseline of -4.0 (0.9); P = 0.007) were seen over the 8 weeks in the synbiotic group. However, no significant changes were observed in serum insulin, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, IGF-1, estradiol, testosterone, DHEA-S and sex hormone binding globulin between-groups at the end of the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, as the 8-week synbiotic consumption compared with placebo had insignificant-reducing effects on glycemic profile, IGF-1 and sex hormones among overweight and obese postmenopausal BCSs, synbiotics may exert considerable beneficial consequences, which need to be further assessed in future clinical trials.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

IRCT, IRCT2015090223861N1. Registered 02 February 2017, http://www.irct.ir: IRCT2015090223861N1.

Chemopreventive Effect of the Germinated Oat and its Phenolic-AVA Extract in Azoxymethane/Dextran Sulfate Sodium (AOM/DSS) Model of Colon Carcinogenesis in Mice

The consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains has been associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) due to the content of natural compounds with antioxidant and anticancer activities. The oat (Avena sativa L.) is a unique source of avenanthramides (AVAs), among other compounds, with chemopreventive effects. In addition, oat germination has shown enhanced nutraceutical and phytochemical properties. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the chemopreventive effect of the sprouted oat (SO) and its phenolic-AVA extract (AVA) in azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced CRC mouse model. Turquesa oat seeds were germinated (five days at 25 °C and 60% relative humidity) and, after 16 weeks of administration, animals in the SO- and AVA-treated groups had a significantly lower inflammation grade and tumor (38–50%) and adenocarcinoma (38–63%) incidence compared to those of the AOM+DSS group (80%). Although both treatments normalized colonic GST and NQO1 activities as well as erythrocyte GSH levels, and significantly reduced cecal and colonic β-GA, thus indicating an improvement in the intestinal parameters, the inflammatory states, and the redox states of the animals, SO exerted a superior chemopreventive effect, probably due to the synergistic effects of multiple compounds. Our results indicate that oats retain their biological properties even after the germination process.