Folate-producing lactic acid bacteria reduce inflammation in mice with induced intestinal mucositis.
AIM
To evaluate two folate-producing strains, Streptococcus (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 the presence of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). For in vivo studies, mice were daily injected with 5-FU to induce intestinal mucositis (IM) and orally administered with folate-producing strains during 6 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 IM resulted in a reduction in diarrhoea score and restoration of the intestinal architecture. Cytokine 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 IM induced by 5-FU in mice.


SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY
Folate-producing LAB could be used in chemotherapy patients to reduce the symptoms of IM, improve their nutritional status and increase the effectiveness of 5-FU.
['Levit|R|R|http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6398-2510', 'Savoy de Giori|G|G|http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9820-2310', 'de Moreno de LeBlanc|A|A|http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0352-374X', 'LeBlanc|J G|JG|http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4634-8630']
D000818:Animals D018938:Caco-2 Cells D016207:Cytokines D003967:Diarrhea D005472:Fluorouracil D005492:Folic Acid D006801:Humans D007249:Inflammation D007413:Intestinal Mucosa D007422:Intestines D056546:Lactobacillales D051379:Mice D052016:Mucositis D019936:Probiotics D048249:Streptococcus thermophilus
lactic acid bacteria inflammation mucositis 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy folate probiotic