Lactobacillus acidophilus and vitamin C attenuate ethanol‑induced intestinal and liver injury in mice

作者：Lu Xing, Fengmei Wang · 发表于：Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine · 年份：2021 · DOI：10.3892/etm.2021.10438 · 被引用次数：9 · 研究领域：Gut microbiota and health、Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects、Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research

Ethanol exposure frequently induces intestinal and liver injury, dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and vitamin C (VC) deficiency. Gut microbiota‑targeted therapy is emerging as an important adjuvant method for protecting the body against ethanol‑induced injury, particularly probiotics containing Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA). However, the feasibility and efficiency of using synbiotics containing LA and VC against ethanol‑induced injury remained largely undetermined. To examine the advantages of LA+VC, their effect was evaluated in an ethanol‑fed mouse model. The results suggested that LA+VC restored gut microbiota homeostasis and reinstated the immune balance of colonic T‑regulatory cells (CD4 + CD45 + forkhead box p3 + ). In addition, intestinal barrier disorders were improved via upregulating tight junction proteins (claudin‑2, zona occludens‑1 and occludin) and mucus secretion, which prevented the translocation of lipopolysaccharide into circulatory systems and subsequently reduced the expression of Toll‑like receptor 4 in liver tissues. In this context, LA+VC treatment reduced the inflammatory response in the liver, which was likely responsible for the improved liver function in ethanol‑challenged mice. Collectively, these results indicated that LA+VC treatment significantly protected the intestine and liver from ethanol damage by enhancing intestinal barrier function and reducing systemic inflammation. The present study paved the way for further exploration of synbiotic...