title: Effects of lactic acid bacteria on cardiac apoptosis are mediated by activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/AKT survival-signalling pathway in rats fed a high-fat diet.
abstract: Through a high-fat diet, obesity leads to cardiomyocyte dysfunction and apoptosis. In addition, there is no evidence that probiotics have potential health effects associated with cardiac apoptosis in obese rats. The present study aimed to explore the effects of probiotics on obesity and cardiac apoptosis in rats fed a high-fat diet (HF). Eight‑week‑old male Wistar rats were separated randomly into five equally sized experimental groups: Normal diet (NC) and high-fat diet (HFC) groups, and high-fat diet supplemented with low (HFL), medium (HFM) or high (HFH) doses of multi‑strain probiotics groups. The rats were subsequently studied for 8 weeks. Food intake and body weights were recorded following sacrifice, and food utilization rates, body fat and serum cholesterol levels were analysed. The myocardial architecture of the left ventricle was evaluated by hematoxylin‑eosin staining, and key apoptotic‑related pathway molecules were analysed by western blotting. Rat weights and triglyceride levels were decreased with oral administration of high doses of probiotics (HFH) compared to the HFC group. Abnormal myocardial architecture and enlarged interstitial spaces were observed in HFC hearts, but were significantly decreased in groups that were provided multi‑strain probiotics compared with NC hearts. Western blot analysis demonstrated that key components of the Fas receptor‑ and mitochondrial‑dependent apoptotic pathways were significantly suppressed in multi‑strain probiotic treated groups compared to the HF group. Additionally, cardiac insulin, such as the insulin‑like growth factor I receptor (IGFIR)‑dependent survival signalling components, were highly induced in left ventricles from rats administered probiotics. Together, these findings strongly suggest that oral administration of probiotics may attenuate cardiomyocyte apoptosis by activation of the phosphatidylinositol‑3 kinase/AKT survival‑signalling pathway in obese rats.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Nutrition, Hungkuang University, Taichung 43302, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Hsueh-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Pei-Pei
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Nutrition, Hungkuang University, Taichung 43302, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Chun-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 50006, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Yu-Lan
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: New Bellus Enterprise Co, Ltd., Tainan 72042, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Chun-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Chih-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, Hungkuang University, Taichung 43302, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Cheng-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt