The probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus BFE5264 and Lactobacillus plantarum NR74 promote cholesterol efflux and suppress inflammation in THP-1 cells.
BACKGROUND
The balance between the rate of cholesterol uptake/accumulation and the rate of cholesterol efflux is reflected in the amount of lipid accumulation in macrophages. Based upon the fact that liver X receptors (LXRs) play a role in cholesterol efflux, we studied the effects of probiotics on cholesterol efflux and anti-inflammatory action in macrophages. We confirmed changes in LXR expression by treatment of LXR-transfected CHO-K1 cells with lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and co-cultured THP-1 cells with LAB to investigate changes in cholesterol efflux and inflammation.


RESULTS
The experiment with CHO-K1 cells showed upregulation of LXR-β by LAB. Treatment of THP-1 cells with LAB promoted LXR expression in THP-1, which eventually led to significant upregulation of ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression. The treatment with live LAB also significantly promoted cholesterol efflux. LAB suppressed expression of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which resulted from activation of LXR.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that Lactobacillus rhamnosus BFE5264 and Lactobacillus plantarum NR74 activated LXR and induced cholesterol efflux by promoting expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1. Both strains also suppressed proinflammatory cytokines including IL-1β and TNF-α. This study could account for the observation that LAB may block foam cell formation by cholesterol efflux and immune modulation.
School of Life Science, Handong Global University, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 791-708, Korea.
Hong-sup
HS
Yoon
Jae-hyun
JH
Ju
Ji-eun
JE
Lee
Hyun-joon
HJ
Park
Jung-min
JM
Lee
Hyeun-kil
HK
Shin
Wilhelm
W
Holzapfel
Kun-young
KY
Park
Myoung-Sool
MS
Do
D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport; D002460:Cell Line; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014162:Transfection; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
C418186:ABCA2 protein, human; C116614:ABCG2 protein, human; D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002784:Cholesterol