Oral administration of butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, a butyrate-producing bacterium, decreases the formation of aberrant crypt foci in the colon and rectum of mice.
Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, a butyrate-producing ruminal bacterium, was evaluated for use as a probiotic to prevent colorectal cancer. Oral administration to Jcl:ICR mice of a new strain of B. fibrisolvens (MDT-1) that produces butyrate at a high rate (10(9) cfu/dose) increased the rate of butyrate production by fecal microbes, suggesting that MDT-1 can grow in the gut. The number of colorectal aberrant crypt foci (ACF), putative preneoplastic lesions induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, was reduced after MDT-1 administration (10(9) cfu/dose, 3 times/wk for 4 wk). The number of aberrant crypts (ACs), number of foci having 3 or 4 ACs per focus, and the percentage of mice having 3 or 4 ACs per focus were also reduced, suggesting that the progress of lesions was suppressed by MDT-1. Interestingly, the MDT-1 cell homogenate did not have a similar beneficial effect. MDT-1 had low beta-glucuronidase activity, and administration of MDT-1 reduced the beta-glucuronidase activity in the colorectal contents. The numbers of natural killer (NK) and NKT cells in the spleen were markedly enhanced in response to MDT-1. Decreased beta-glucuronidase activity and increased numbers of NK and NKT cells and butyrate production may explain in part why MDT-1 administration suppressed ACF formation. These results suggest that colorectal cancer may be prevented or suppressed by the utilization of MDT-1 as a probiotic. Administration of MDT-1 had no harmful effect on the health of mice at least for 3 mo.
Ohkawara
Sou
S
Department of Life Science, College of Agriculture, Meiji University, Tama-ku, Kawasaki 214-8571, Japan.
Furuya
Hideki
H
Nagashima
Kousuke
K
Asanuma
Narito
N
Hino
Tsuneo
T
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002087:Butyrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D045856:Butyrivibrio / Q000378:metabolism; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D002087:Butyrates