Improved metabolic stability in iNOS knockout mice with Lactobacillus supplementation

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Metabolic disorders
• Gut microbiome

Background:

• Oxidative and nitrosative stress are crucial in metabolic disorders.
• Mice lacking inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS-/-) exhibit insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and altered gut microbiota with reduced Lactobacillus.
• Maintaining redox balance is vital for metabolic health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if Lactobacillus supplementation can mitigate metabolic disturbances in iNOS-/- mice.
• To understand the impact of Lactobacillus on gut microbiota, glucose metabolism, lipid profiles, and energy balance.

Main Methods:

• iNOS-/- and wild-type (WT) mice were supplemented with or without Lactobacillus.
• Evaluated glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, gluconeogenesis, and lipid profiles.
• Analyzed gene expression (qPCR), gut microbiota (16S rRNA sequencing), and metabolomics (LC-MS).

Main Results:

• iNOS-/- mice showed reduced microbial diversity, decreased Lactobacillus, and altered metabolites, indicating metabolic dysregulation.
• Lactobacillus supplementation reversed glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia in iNOS-/- mice.
• Improvements correlated with altered gene expression in lipid metabolism pathways, but body weight and energy balance were not restored.

Conclusions:

• Lactobacillus supplementation ameliorates key metabolic disturbances in iNOS-/- mice.
• The gut microbiome, specifically Lactobacillus, plays a significant role in regulating metabolic health.
• While beneficial for metabolic markers, Lactobacillus did not fully restore energy balance in this model.