<i>Lactobacillus fermentum</i> Alleviates the Colorectal Inflammation Induced by Low-Dose Sub-Chronic Microcystin-LR Exposure

Yue Yang; Cong Wen; Shuilin Zheng; Fengmei Song; Ying Liu; Xueqiong Yao; Yan Tang; Xiangling Feng; Jihua Chen; Fei Yang

doi:10.3390/toxins15090579

Toxins (Sep 2023)

<i>Lactobacillus fermentum</i> Alleviates the Colorectal Inflammation Induced by Low-Dose Sub-Chronic Microcystin-LR Exposure

Yue Yang,
Cong Wen,
Shuilin Zheng,
Fengmei Song,
Ying Liu,
Xueqiong Yao,
Yan Tang,
Xiangling Feng,
Jihua Chen,
Fei Yang

Affiliations

Yue Yang: The Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards of Hunan Province, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Cong Wen: Changsha Yuhua District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha 410014, China
Shuilin Zheng: Changsha Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha 410004, China
Fengmei Song: The Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards of Hunan Province, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Ying Liu: The Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards of Hunan Province, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Xueqiong Yao: The Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards of Hunan Province, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Yan Tang: The Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards of Hunan Province, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Xiangling Feng: Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410017, China
Jihua Chen: Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410017, China
Fei Yang: The Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards of Hunan Province, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15090579
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 9
p. 579

Abstract

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Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) contamination is a worldwide environmental problem that poses a grave threat to the water ecosystem and public health. Exposure to MC-LR has been associated with the development of intestinal injury, but there are no effective treatments for MC-LR-induced intestinal disease. Probiotics are “live microorganisms that are beneficial to the health of the host when administered in sufficient quantities”. It has been demonstrated that probiotics can prevent or treat a variety of human diseases; however, their ability to mitigate MC-LR-induced intestinal harm has not yet been investigated. The objective of this study was to determine whether probiotics can mitigate MC-LR-induced intestinal toxicity and its underlying mechanisms. We first evaluated the pathological changes in colorectal tissues using an animal model with sub-chronic exposure to low-dose MC-LR, HE staining to assess colorectal histopathologic changes, qPCR to detect the expression levels of inflammatory factors in colorectal tissues, and WB to detect the alterations on CSF1R signaling pathway proteins in colorectal tissues. Microbial sequencing analysis and screening of fecal microorganisms differential to MC-LR treatment in mice. To investigate the role of microorganisms in MC-LR-induced colorectal injury, an in vitro model of MC-LR co-treatment with microorganisms was developed. Our findings demonstrated that MC-LR treatment induced an inflammatory response in mouse colorectal tissues, promoted the expression of inflammatory factors, activated the CSF1R signaling pathway, and significantly decreased the abundance of Lactobacillus. In a model of co-treatment with MC-LR and Lactobacillus fermentum (L. fermentum), it was discovered that L. fermentum substantially reduced the incidence of the colorectal inflammatory response induced by MC-LR and inhibited the protein expression of the CSF1R signaling pathway. This is the first study to suggest that L. fermentum inhibits the CSF1R signaling pathway to reduce the incidence of MC-LR-induced colorectal inflammation. This research may provide an excellent experimental foundation for the development of strategies for the prevention and treatment of intestinal diseases in MC-LR.

Published in Toxins

ISSN: 2072-6651 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/toxins/

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