The Protective Effect of <i>Limosilactobacillus fermentum</i> FZU501 Against Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice via Gut Microbiota–Liver Axis

Zihua Liang; Shiyun Chen; Xiangchen Zhang; Jiayi Li; Weiling Guo; Li Ni; Xucong Lv

doi:10.3390/foods14061054

Foods (Mar 2025)

The Protective Effect of <i>Limosilactobacillus fermentum</i> FZU501 Against Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice via Gut Microbiota–Liver Axis

Zihua Liang,
Shiyun Chen,
Xiangchen Zhang,
Jiayi Li,
Weiling Guo,
Li Ni,
Xucong Lv

Affiliations

Zihua Liang: Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
Shiyun Chen: Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
Xiangchen Zhang: Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
Jiayi Li: Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
Weiling Guo: Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
Li Ni: Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
Xucong Lv: Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14061054
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 6
p. 1054

Abstract

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As a probiotic strain isolated from Hongqu rice wine (a traditional Chinese fermented food), Limosilactobacillus fermentum FZU501 (designated as Lf) demonstrates exceptional gastric acid and bile salt tolerance, showing potential application as a functional food. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of dietary Lf intervention on alcohol-induced liver injury (ALI) in mice. The results demonstrated that oral administration of Lf effectively ameliorated alcohol-induced lipid metabolism disorders by reducing the serum levels of TC, TG and LDL-C and increasing the serum levels of HDL-C. In addition, oral administration of Lf effectively prevented alcohol-induced liver damage by increasing the hepatic activities of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GSH-Px) and alcohol-metabolizing enzymes (ADH and ALDH). Interestingly, 16S amplicon sequencing showed that oral administration of Lf increased the number of Prevotella, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Lactobacillus, but decreased the proportion of Faecalibaculum, Adlercreutzia and Alistipes in the intestines of mice that consumed excessive alcohol, which was highly associated with improved liver function. As revealed by liver untargeted metabolomics studies, oral Lf clearly changed liver metabolic profiles, with the signature biomarkers mainly involving purine metabolism, taurine metabolism, tryptophan, alanine, aspartic acid and glutamate metabolism, etc. Additionally, Lf intervention regulated liver gene transcription in over-drinking mice for cholesterol metabolism, bile acid metabolism, fatty acid β-oxidation, alcohol metabolism and oxidative stress. Taken together, the above research results provide solid scientific support for the biological activity of Lf in ameliorating alcohol-induced liver metabolism disorder and intestinal microbiota imbalance.

Published in Foods

ISSN: 2304-8158 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/foods

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