title: VSL#3 probiotic treatment decreases bacterial translocation in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Probiotics can prevent pathological bacterial translocation in cirrhosis by modulating intestinal microbiota and improving gut barrier and immune disturbances. To evaluate the effect of probiotic VSL#3 on bacterial translocation, intestinal microbiota, gut barrier and inflammatory response in rats with experimental cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six Sprague-Dawley rats with CCl4 -induced cirrhosis were randomized into two groups: VSL#3 group (n = 22) that received VSL#3 in drinking water, and water group (n = 24) that received water only. Treatment began at week 6 of cirrhosis induction and continued until laparotomy, performed 1 week after development of ascites or at week 20. A control group included 11 healthy rats. At this study end, we evaluated bacterial translocation, intestinal flora, intestinal barrier (ileal claudin-2 and 4, β-defensin-1, occludin and malondialdehyde as index of oxidative damage) and serum cytokines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mortality during this study was similar in the VSL#3 group (10/22, 45%) and the water group (10/24, 42%) (P = 1). The incidence of bacterial translocation was 1/12 (8%) in the VSL#3 group, 7/14 (50%) in the water group (P = 0.03 vs. VSL#3 group) and 0/11 in the control group (P = 0.008 vs. water group). The concentration of ileal and caecal enterobacteria and enterococci was similar in the two groups of cirrhotic rats. The ileal occludin concentration was higher and ileal malondialdehyde and serum levels of TNF-α were lower in the VSL#3 group than in the water group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VSL#3 decreases bacterial translocation, the pro-inflammatory state and ileal oxidative damage and increases ileal occludin expression in rats with experimental cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques (IIB) Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain.
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boullosa
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: Francesc J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Sancho
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Pau
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sancho-Bru
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oms
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mirelis
authors.forename: Cándido
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Juárez
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guarner
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soriano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000378:metabolism; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D007813:Laparotomy; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D012083:Renin
keywords: experimental model; inflammatory response; intestinal barrier; liver damage; microbiota