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Published on: October 29, 2014
L. fermentum CECT 5716 prevents stress-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction in newborn rats
T Vanhaecke1,2,3,4, P Aubert1,2,3, P-A Grohard1,2,3
1INSERM U1235, Nantes, France.
Insights
Lactobacillus fermentum in newborn rats prevented intestinal barrier dysfunction caused by stress. This probiotic also improved immune responses and exploratory behavior, suggesting potential for treating infant gastrointestinal disorders.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) dysfunction is implicated in infant gastrointestinal disorders like food allergies and colitis.
- While probiotics show promise in adults, their effects on the neonatal gut barrier are understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of Lactobacillus fermentum CECT 5716 (L. fermentum) on stress-induced IEB dysfunction in newborn rats.
- To assess L. fermentum's effects on systemic immune response and exploratory behavior in neonates.
Main Methods:
- Newborn rats were gavaged with L. fermentum or water.
- Intestinal permeability was measured using fluorescein sulfonic acid (FSA) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) after maternal separation (MS) and water avoidance stress (WAS).
- ZO-1 expression, immune cell cytokine secretion, and behavior were analyzed.
Main Results:
- L. fermentum prevented stress-induced IEB dysfunction, reducing intestinal permeability in the small intestine.
- It normalized zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression and organization in ileal cells and reduced stress-induced corticosteronemia.
- L. fermentum modulated splenocyte cytokine secretion (enhancing IFNγ, preventing IL-4) and improved exploratory behavior.
Conclusions:
- L. fermentum demonstrates potential in preventing and treating neonatal gastrointestinal disorders linked to IEB dysfunction.
- This probiotic may offer a novel therapeutic approach for vulnerable infant populations.
Background:
Intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) dysfunction plays a critical role in various intestinal disorders affecting infants and children, including the development of food allergies and colitis. Recent studies highlighted the role of probiotics in regulating IEB functions and behavior in adults, but their effects in the newborn remain largely unknown. We therefore characterized in rat pups, the impact of Lactobacillus fermentum CECT 5716 (L. fermentum) on stress-induced IEB dysfunction, systemic immune response and exploratory behavior.
Methods:
Newborn rats received daily by gavage either L. fermentum or water. Intestinal permeability to fluorescein sulfonic acid (FSA) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was measured following maternal separation (MS) and water avoidance stress (WAS). Immunohistochemical, transcriptomic, and Western blot analysis of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) distribution and expression were performed. Anxiety-like and exploratory behavior was assessed using the elevated plus maze test. Cytokine secretion of activated splenocytes was also evaluated.
Key Results:
L. fermentum prevented MS and WAS-induced IEB dysfunction in vivo. L. fermentum reduced permeability to both FSA and HRP in the small intestine but not in the colon. L. fermentum increased expression of ZO-1 and prevented WAS-induced ZO-1 disorganization in ileal epithelial cells. L. fermentum also significantly reduced stress-induced increase in plasma corticosteronemia. In activated splenocytes, L. fermentum enhanced IFNγ secretion while it prevented IL-4 secretion. Finally, L. fermentum increased exploratory behavior.
Conclusions & Inferences:
These results suggest that L. fermentum could provide a novel tool for the prevention and/or treatment of gastrointestinal disorders associated with altered IEB functions in the newborn.
