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Published on: October 24, 2018
Limosilactobacillus reuteri Alleviates Anxiety-like Behavior and Intestinal Symptoms in Two Stressed Mouse Models
Liang Zhang1, Shuwen Zhang1, Minzhi Jiang1
1State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
Background/Objectives:
Limosilactobacillus (Lm.) reuteri is a widely utilized probiotic, recognized for its significant role in alleviating symptoms associated with gastrointestinal and psychiatric disorders. However, the effectiveness of Lm. reuteri is strain-specific, and its genetic diversity leads to significant differences in phenotypes among different strains. This study aims to identify potential probiotic strains by comparing the strain-specific characteristics of Lm. reuteri to better understand their efficacy and mechanisms in alleviating stress-induced anxiety-like behaviors and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Methods:
We cultivated 11 strains of Lm. reuteri from healthy human samples and conducted phenotypic and genomic characterizations. Two strains, WLR01 (=GOLDGUT-LR99) and WLR06, were screened as potential probiotics and were tested for their efficacy in alleviating anxiety-like behavior and intestinal symptoms in mouse models subjected to sleep deprivation (SD) and water avoidance stress (WAS).
Results:
The results showed that the selected strains effectively improved mouse behaviors, including cognitive impairment and inflammatory response, as well as improving anxiety and regulating gut microbiota composition. The improvements with WLR01 were associated with the regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in the SD model mice and were associated with visceral hypersensitivity and intestinal integrity in the WAS model mice.
Conclusions:
In summary, this study identified the Lm. reuteri strain WLR01 as having the potential to alleviate anxiety-like behavior and intestinal symptoms through the analysis of Lm. reuteri genotypes and phenotypes, as well as validation in mouse models, thereby laying the foundation for future clinical applications.
Insights
This study identified Limosilactobacillus reuteri strain WLR01 as a promising probiotic for alleviating anxiety and gut symptoms. Further research will explore its clinical applications for stress-related disorders.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Neuroscience
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Limosilactobacillus reuteri is a probiotic used for gastrointestinal and psychiatric disorders.
- Probiotic effectiveness is strain-specific due to genetic diversity.
- Strain variation necessitates identifying specific strains for targeted therapeutic effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize Limosilactobacillus reuteri strains for probiotic potential.
- To evaluate the efficacy of selected strains in alleviating stress-induced anxiety-like behaviors and gastrointestinal symptoms.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of Limosilactobacillus reuteri.
Main Methods:
- Cultivated 11 Limosilactobacillus reuteri strains from human samples.
- Performed phenotypic and genomic characterizations.
- Tested two selected strains (WLR01 and WLR06) in mouse models of sleep deprivation and water avoidance stress.
Main Results:
- Selected Limosilactobacillus reuteri strains improved mouse behaviors, cognitive function, and inflammatory responses.
- Strain WLR01 demonstrated efficacy by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in sleep-deprived mice.
- WLR01 also improved visceral hypersensitivity and intestinal integrity in stress-induced mice.
Conclusions:
- Limosilactobacillus reuteri strain WLR01 shows potential for alleviating anxiety and intestinal symptoms.
- Genotypic and phenotypic analysis, validated in mouse models, supports WLR01's therapeutic capabilities.
- This study provides a foundation for future clinical applications of Limosilactobacillus reuteri WLR01.
