Oral sublethal infection with Salmonella as a model to study reactive arthritis.

NOTO LLANA M, GIACOMODONATO MN, SARNACKI SH, GARTNER A, CACCURI R, CERQUETTI MC.

Argentina

Congreso; SAIB 2009. Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular.; 2009

SAIB Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular.

We have recently described the sequelae of a single, low dose of virulent S. Enteritidis in a murine model. BALB/c mice inoculated intragastrically with a sublethal dose of 103 cfu of S. Enteritidis showed changes in the gut that persist for at least 21 days. Histological studies revealed diffuse mild enteritis showing an intestinal epithelium diminished in height. Q-PCR amplifications demonstrated that, compared to control mice, the expression of intestinal COX-2 is 3-fold increased whereas IL-17 is 2 times higher. Intestinal inflammation induced by Salmonella led to joint tissues changes (moderate hyperplasia of the synovial membrane). Based on these findings we tested the effect of probiotic treatment (L. delbrueckii, S. thermophilus and L. casei) on the changes produced by Salmonella in our model. Four groups of mice were studied: i) mice fed with probiotic strains ad libitum for 7 days and challenged at day 8 with Salmonella, ii) mice fed with Lactobacillus without bacteria, iii) mice infected without probiotic treatment, and iv) untreated animals. All mice were sacrificed at day 21 post infection. Results showed that previous treatment with probiotic ameliorates the Salmonella induced intestinal mucosal edema and the overall diffuse enteritis. Interestingly, the damaging effect of Salmonella infection in the joints was significantly reduced in probioticfed animals.