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Rectal Administration of Lactobacillus casei DG Modifies Flora Composition and Toll-Like Receptor Expression in Colonic Mucosa of Patients with Mild Ulcerative Colitis
Background An imbalance in gut microbiota seems to contribute to the development of chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcerative colitis (UC). Although it has been suggested that probiotic supplementation is an effective approach to colitis, its effects on intesti...
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Published in: | Digestive diseases and sciences 2011-04, Vol.56 (4), p.1178-1187 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Background
An imbalance in gut microbiota seems to contribute to the development of chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcerative colitis (UC). Although it has been suggested that probiotic supplementation is an effective approach to colitis, its effects on intestinal flora and on mucosal cytokine balance have never been explored.
Aim
To evaluate the effect of
Lactobacillus casei
(
L. casei
) DG, a probiotic strain, on colonic-associated microbiota, mucosal cytokine balance, and toll-like receptor (TLR) expression.
Methods
Twenty-six patients with mild left-sided UC were randomly allocated to one of three groups for an 8-week treatment period: the first group of 7 patients received oral 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) alone, the second group of 8 patients received oral 5-ASA plus oral
L. casei
DG, and the third group of 11 patients received oral 5-ASA and rectal
L. casei
DG. Biopsies were collected from the sigmoid region to culture mucosal-associated microbes and to assess cytokine and TLR messenger RNA (mRNA) levels by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Results
5-ASA alone or together with oral
L. casei
DG failed to affect colonic flora and TLR expression in a significant manner, but when coupled with rectally administered
L. casei
DG, it modified colonic microbiota by increasing
Lactobacillus
spp. and reducing
Enterobacteriaceae
. It also significantly reduced TLR-4 and interleukin (IL)-1β mRNA levels and significantly increased mucosal IL-10.
Conclusions
Manipulation of mucosal microbiota by
L. casei
DG and its effects on the mucosal immune system seem to be required to mediate the beneficial activities of probiotics in UC patients. |
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ISSN: | 0163-2116 1573-2568 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s10620-010-1384-1 |