1. Probiotic Consortia Protect the Intestine Against Radiation Injury by Improving Intestinal Epithelial Homeostasis.
- Author
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Xie LW, Lu HY, Tang LF, Tang FL, Zhu RQ, Wang DF, Cai S, Tian Y, and Li M
- Subjects
- Animals, Male, Mice, Radiation Injuries prevention & control, Radiation Injuries pathology, Cell Proliferation drug effects, Oxidative Stress drug effects, Intestines microbiology, Cell Differentiation drug effects, Radiation Injuries, Experimental prevention & control, Radiation Injuries, Experimental pathology, Radiation Injuries, Experimental metabolism, Stem Cells, Cytokines metabolism, Probiotics pharmacology, Probiotics therapeutic use, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Intestinal Mucosa microbiology, Intestinal Mucosa metabolism, Intestinal Mucosa radiation effects, Intestinal Mucosa pathology, Homeostasis, Gastrointestinal Microbiome drug effects
- Abstract
Purpose: Radiation-induced intestinal injury (RIII) commonly occur during abdominal-pelvic cancer radiation therapy; however, no effective prophylactic or therapeutic agents are available to manage RIII currently. This study aimed to clarify the potential of probiotic consortium supplementation in alleviating RIII., Methods and Materials: Male C57BL/6J mice were orally administered a probiotic mixture comprising Bifidobacterium longum BL21, Lactobacillus paracasei LC86, and Lactobacillus plantarum Lp90 for 30 days before exposure to 13 Gy of whole abdominal irradiation. The survival rates, clinical scores, and histologic changes in the intestines of mice were assessed. The impacts of probiotic consortium treatment on intestinal stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and epithelial barrier function; oxidative stress; and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. A comprehensive examination of the gut microbiota composition was conducted through 16S rRNA sequencing, while changes in metabolites were identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry., Results: The probiotic consortium alleviated RIII, as reflected by increased survival rates, improved clinical scores, and mitigated mucosal injury. The probiotic consortium treatment exhibited enhanced therapeutic effects at the histologic level compared with individual probiotic strains, although there was no corresponding improvement in survival rates and colon length. Moreover, the probiotic consortium stimulated intestinal stem cell proliferation and differentiation, enhanced the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier, and regulated redox imbalance and inflammatory responses in irradiated mice. Notably, the treatment induced a restructuring of the gut microbiota composition, particularly enriching short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria. Metabolomic analysis revealed distinctive metabolic changes associated with the probiotic consortium, including elevated levels of anti-inflammatory and antiradiation metabolites., Conclusions: The probiotic consortium attenuated RIII by modulating the gut microbiota and metabolites, improving inflammatory symptoms, and regulating oxidative stress. These findings provide new insights into the maintenance of intestinal health with probiotic consortium supplementation and will facilitate the development of probiotic-based therapeutic strategies for RIII in clinical practice., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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