Folate- producing lactic acid bacteria reduce inflammation in mice with induced intestinal mucositis

LEVIT, R.; SAVOY DE GIORI, GRACIELA; DE MORENO DE LEBLANC, A.; LEBLANC, JEAN GUY

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2018 vol. 125 p. 1494 - 1501

1364-5072

Aim: To evaluate two folate-producing strains, Streptoccocus (Strep.) thermophilus CRL 808 and Strep. thermophilus CRL 415 against chemically-induced mucositis in mice. Methods and Results: In vitro assays with Caco-2 cells were performed to evaluate the effect of the bacteria in presence of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). For in vivo studies, mice were daily injected with 5-FU to induce intestinal mucositis, and orally administered with folate-producing strains during six days. Clinical symptoms, histological parameters and cytokine profiles were assessed. The results showed that Strep. thermophilus CRL 808 increased the cytotoxicity of 5-FU against Caco-2 cells. Administration of this strain in mice with chemically-induced intestinal mucositis resulted in a reduction of diarrhea score and restoration of the intestinal architecture. Cytokines analysis showed that the anti-inflammatory effect by the bacterium is not associated with an immune mechanism. Regarding Strep. thermophilus CRL 415, no improvements were observed in any of the parameters evaluated. Conclusion: The administration of the folate-producing Strep. thermophilus CRL 808 has the potential to prevent intestinal mucositis induced by 5-FU in mice. Significance and Impact of Study: Folate-producing LAB could be used in chemotherapy patients to reduce the symptoms of intestinal mucositis, improve their nutritional status and increase the effectiveness of 5-FU.