Lactobacillus crispatus M206119 exacerbates murine DSS-colitis by interfering with inflammatory responses.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of Lactobacillus crispatus (L. crispatus) strain China Center for Type Culture Collection (CCTCC) M206119 in intestinal inflammation.


METHODS
Forty 8-wk-old Balb/c mice (20 ± 2 g) were divided into four groups of 10 mice each. Three groups that had received dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) were administered normal saline, sulfasalazine or CCTCC M206119 strain, and the fourth group received none of these. We assessed the severity of colitis using a disease activity index, measured the colon length and weight, collected stools and mesenteric lymph nodes for bacterial microﬂora analysis. One centimeter of the proximal colon, middle colon and distal colon were collected and ﬁxed in 10% buffered formalin, dehydrated in ethanol, and embedded in parafﬁn. Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression was detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Protective factors zonula occludens (ZO)-1 and β-defensin 2 were detected by immunoblotting. The features of CCTCC M206119 strain were identified based on morphology, biochemical profile, and 16S RNA sequencing.


RESULTS
DSS-colitis animals treated with CCTCC M206119 had markedly more severe disease, with greater weight loss, diarrhea, fecal bleeding, and shortened colon length. In addition, the CCTCC-M206119-treated group had comparatively higher histological scores and more neutrophil infiltration than the controls. Expression of protective factors ZO-1 and β-defensin 2 was downregulated due to destruction of the mucosal barrier after CCTCC M206119 strain treatment. An in vitro assay demonstrated that CCTCC M206119 strain increased the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB in epithelial cells. Intestinal proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokine responses were evaluated. Proinflammatory colonic cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) levels were clearly increased in CCTCC-M206119-treated animals, whereas anti-inflammatory colonic cytokine (IL-10) level was lowered compared with saline or 5-aminosalicylic-acid-treated DSS-colitis mice. Next, CCTCC M206119 strain was characterized as L. crispatus by microscopic morphology, biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene level.


CONCLUSIONS
Not all lactobacilli are beneficial for intestinal inflammation, and L. crispatus CCTCC M206119 strain is involved in exacerbation of intestinal inflammation in DSS-colitis mice.
Division of Digestive Disease, Xiangya Second Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
Fu-Xi
FX
Zhou
Lu
L
Chen
Xiao-Wei
XW
Liu
Chun-Hui
CH
Ouyang
Xiao-Ping
XP
Wu
Xue-Hong
XH
Wang
Chun-Lian
CL
Wang
Fang-Gen
FG
Lu
D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000032:analysis
D016207:Cytokines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; C569043:Tjp1 protein, mouse; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein; D023083:beta-Defensins; D016264:Dextran Sulfate