Microbial lysate upregulates host oxytocin.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Neuroendocrinology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Neuropeptide oxytocin influences social bonding, metabolism, and wound healing.
• Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) administration previously increased oxytocin and improved wound healing in mice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if L. reuteri enhances skin wound repair in humans.
• To determine if a sterile L. reuteri lysate can boost oxytocin and improve wound healing.

Main Methods:

• Oral administration of L. reuteri or its sterile lysate to mouse models and human subjects.
• Measurement of oxytocin levels, stress hormone corticosterone, and epidermal closure rates.
• Histological analysis of oxytocin-producing cells in the hypothalamus.

Main Results:

• Oral L. reuteri improved skin wound repair in human subjects.
• Supplementation with sterile L. reuteri lysate increased systemic oxytocin and accelerated wound repair.
• In mice, L. reuteri lysate increased hypothalamic oxytocin-producing cells, reduced corticosterone, and enhanced epidermal closure.

Conclusions:

• Bacterial viability is not required for microbe-mediated oxytocin regulation.
• Bacterial peptides or metabolites may modulate host oxytocin secretion for health benefits.
• Results suggest potential for L. reuteri-derived products in public or personalized health strategies.