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Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
10:36

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage

Published on: January 27, 2019

The probiotic Lactobacillus GG may augment intestinal host defense by regulating apoptosis and promoting

Patricia W Lin1, Tala R Nasr, Andrew J Berardinelli

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. Patricia_Lin@oz.ped.emory.edu

Pediatric Research
|June 17, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Probiotics like Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) reduce intestinal epithelial apoptosis in preterm infants. LGG stimulates antiapoptotic and cytoprotective genes, potentially preventing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Neonatology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a major cause of illness and death in preterm infants.
  • Inappropriate apoptosis of mucosal epithelia is a suspected factor in NEC development.
  • Probiotics show promise in reducing NEC incidence and suppressing intestinal cell apoptosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vivo mechanism of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) in modulating intestinal epithelial apoptosis.
  • To confirm LGG's antiapoptotic effects in the developing intestine.
  • To identify molecular pathways influenced by LGG in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro confirmation of LGG's ability to reduce chemically induced intestinal epithelial apoptosis.
  • Oral administration of LGG to live animals, followed by ex vivo apoptosis measurement (caspase 3, TUNEL staining).
  • cDNA microarray analysis of intestinal tissue from LGG-treated mice to assess gene expression.

Main Results:

  • LGG effectively reduced chemically induced intestinal epithelial apoptosis in vitro.
  • Oral LGG administration in vivo decreased chemically induced apoptosis ex vivo.
  • LGG up-regulated multiple cytoprotective and antiapoptotic genes in the mouse intestine.

Conclusions:

  • Probiotics like LGG can enhance intestinal defenses in the developing gut by promoting antiapoptotic and cytoprotective responses.
  • Understanding how probiotics affect apoptotic pathways is crucial for developing targeted NEC therapies.
  • LGG demonstrates potential as a preventive strategy against NEC by modulating epithelial cell apoptosis.

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