Immunomodulation and riboflavin production by lactic acid bacteria reduce intestinal damage on a murine model of 5-fluorouracil-induced mucositis

R. LEVIT; G. SAVOY DE GIORI; A. DE MORENO DE LEBLANC; J.G. LEBLANC

Egmond aan Zee

Congreso; 12th International Symposium on Lactic Acid Bacteria; 2017

Royal Netherlands Society for Microbiology (KNVM) and the Federation of European Microbiological Societies(FEMS)

Intestinal mucositis (IM) is a side effect of cancer therapy characterized by ulceration, inflammation and hemorrhage throughout the gastrointestinal tract. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), one of the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents that can also affect healthy cells located throughout the body such as the epithelia of the gastrointestinal tract. The pathogenesis of IM remains undefined although pro-inflammatory cytokines are involved. Even though there is no effective therapy for this clinical condition, certain probiotic strains with anti-inflammatory properties could represent an alternative. It has been reported that Streptococcus thermophilus CRL807 (St CRL807) diminished the severity of inflammation in a mouse model of colitis by modulating the immune response of the host. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of St CRL807 on 5-FU-induced IM in a mouse model. Mice were divided into 3 groups: saline (saline i.p. and orally for 6d), 5-FU+saline (50 mg.Kg-1 5-FU i.p. and saline orally for 6d) and 5-FU+St CRL807 (50 mg.Kg-1 5-FU i.p. and St CRL807 108 UFC/0,1ml orally for 6d). Body weight, diarrhea score, serum cytokines levels and intestinal morphology and histopatology were assessed. St CRL807 significantly reduced the diarrhea score, reversed the histopathological changes induced by 5-FU evidenced by increased villus hight/crypt depth ratio and reduced the inflammation. The anti-inflammatory effect was reflected by high anti-/pro-inflammatory cytokines ratios in serum. In conclusion, oral administration of St CRL807, a strain with immunomodulatory properties, reduced intestinal damage in a murine model of 5-FU- induced IM, through an anti-inflammatory immunological response.