Probiotic therapy in radiation-induced intestinal injury and repair.
Intestinal injury from ionizing radiation is a clinically important entity, as enteritis symptoms occur commonly after radiotherapy for pelvic malignancies. Preventative or therapeutic options for radiation enteritis are mostly unsatisfactory; however, available data suggests that probiotic bacteria--those which confer health benefit--may have therapeutic value. Previous reports from both human trials and animal models have evaluated various end points for probiotic usage in limiting radiation-associated intestinal damage. Newer data suggests that particular probiotics and/or their secreted or derived bacterial products may have unique radioprotective properties. We will review the area with a focus on new developments surrounding probiotic therapy in radiation-induced intestinal injury and repair.
Ciorba
Matthew A
MA
Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA. mciorba@im.wustl.edu
Stenson
William F
WF
D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004751:Enteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000378:metabolism; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000628:therapy*