Macrophages Are Involved in Gut Bacterial Translocation and Reversed by Lactobacillus in Experimental Uremia

Uremia causes gut microbiome dysbiosis, which is characterized by a reduction in beneficial bacteria. Intestinal bacterial translocation (BT) contributes to microinflammation in uremia, which is associated with adverse outcomes. Whether macrophages are involved in BT remains unclear.

We investigated the involvement of macrophages in BT and microinflammation in uremic rats and whether Lactobacillus LB can influence macrophage activity.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham, uremia, and uremia + probiotic. Macrophages and GFP-labeled tracer bacteria in intestinal and extraintestinal tissues were observed by fluorescence microscopy. The macrophage ultrastructure was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Immunochemistry was used to analyze the expression of cluster of differentiation 11a (CD11a), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). RT-PCR and Western blot were employed to assess the mRNA and protein expression of early growth response gene 1 (EGR1) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4).

In uremic rats, the colocalization of GFP-labeled tracer bacteria and macrophages was visible in intestinal and extraintestinal tissues. Compared with the sham group, the uremic macrophages showed fewer cytoplasmic protrusions and pseudopodia. Administration of Lactobacillus LB restored the protrusions and pseudopodia. Compared with the sham group, the uremia group exhibited macrophages with higher staining intensities for CD11a, iNOS, and ICAM-1, and higher mRNA and protein expression of TLR4 and EGR1.

Intestinal macrophages in the uremic rats are polarized toward a proinflammatory phenotype, resulting in microinflammation. Macrophages with impaired phagocytic function are associated with BT. Lactobacillus LB reduces BT by enhancing macrophage phagocytosis.