In vitro Characterization of Gut Microbiota-Derived Bacterial Strains With Neuroprotective Properties

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Neuroscience
• Immunology

Background:

• Neurodegenerative diseases involve neuronal loss and cognitive decline, with the gut-brain axis implicated.
• Gut microbiome alterations are increasingly linked to neurodegenerative conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To screen gut bacterial strains for neuroprotective properties.
• To investigate the mechanisms by which bacterial metabolites influence neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
• To explore the therapeutic potential of specific bacterial strains and their metabolites for neurodegenerative disorders.

Main Methods:

• Screening of 50 gut bacterial strains for reduction of interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion in U373 glioblastoma cells.
• Assessing antioxidant capacity of bacterial strains and their effect on oxidative stress in neuronal cell lines.
• Analyzing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production and its impact on neuroinflammation and neurogenesis.

Main Results:

• Parabacteroides distasonis MRx0005 and Megasphaera massiliensis MRx0029 significantly reduced IL-6 secretion.
• Both strains exhibited antioxidant properties; MRx0029 protected neuroblastoma cells and promoted neuronal maturation.
• MRx0029 produced butyric, valeric, and hexanoic acids; butyrate reduced neuroinflammation, and butyrate/valerate aided neuronal maturation.

Conclusions:

• Specific gut bacteria, particularly MRx0005 and MRx0029, possess neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Bacterial metabolites like butyrate and valerate contribute to neuroprotection, but live biotherapeutics show broader effects.
• Live bacterial therapeutics represent a promising avenue for novel drug discovery in neurodegenerative disease treatment.