Oral probiotic Lactobacillus kefiri prevents LPS-induced preterm birth, reduces inflammation, and modulates vaginal microbiota in pregnant mice.

VENTIMIGLIA MS; POZO ALBÁN M; VALEFF NJ; CECOTTI M; SERRADELL MA; JENSEN CF

Congreso; Reunión de Sociedades de Biociencias (SAI-SAIC-SAFIS) 2020; 2020

SAI-SAIC-SAFIS

Preterm birth (PTB) is a complication of pregnancy affecting 5-18% of all births worldwide. Represents 15 million babies born preterm each year with mortality rates 40 times higher than term babies. It is well known that infection-induced inflammation is a contributing factor. This process involves a progressive inflammatory cascade within gestational tissues accompanied by influx of leukocytes. We have reported that treatment with Lactobacillus kefiri CIDCA8348 (Lk48) prevented PTB (88%) in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced PTB mice model. Given this, we sought to elucidate the mechanisms behind Lk48 protective role in PTB induction. C57BL/6 females were treated every 48h by oral gavage during a week with Lk48 or vehicle. Next, females were mated with BALB/c males. On gestational day (gd) 16, females were challenged with LPS. Tissue samples from uterus, decidua and placenta were harvest 18h after LPS. Leucocytes influx was evaluated by flow cytometry and histological examination by light microscopy was performed. The impact on vaginal microbiota was evaluated by a qualitative analysis by PCR-DGGE and a gene diversity analysis from vaginal samples. Treatment with Lk48, significantly lowered percentages of CD8+T cells as compared to control (t-test p