Use of genetically engineered Lactic Acid Bacteria for the prevention of intestinal inflammation and colon cancer in mice

LEBLANC, J.G.

Porto de Galinhas, PE, Brazil

Congreso; 25º Congresso Brasileiro de Microbiologia; 2009

Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia

Reactive oxygen species are involved in various aspects of intestinal inflammation and tumour development. Decreasing their levels might therefore be useful in the prevention of these diseases. The use of antioxidant enzyme-producing Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) is a promising approach to reduce oxidative stress. A catalase-producing strain of Lactococcus (Lc.) lactis was able to prevent an experimental murine DMH- induced colon cancer whereas animals that received the non-catalase producing strain were not protected against this intestinal cancer. The animals that received the catalase-producing Lc. lactis also decreased the extent of colonic damage and intestinal inflammation. Using a chemically induced (TNBS) Chron´s disease model, it was shown that mice that received strains of Lactobacillus casei that produce either catalase or superoxide dismutase had a quicker recovery time and lesser extent of intestinal inflammation compared to animals that received the non-enzyme-producing strains or those that did not receive bacterial supplementation. These strains should be evaluate in other trials to see if they could eliminate ROS in the digestive tract of animals and humans and thus be useful in the treatment or prevention of intestinal inflammatory diseases or cancer.