title: Probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011 and acidophilus R0052) reduce the expression of toll-like receptor 4 in mice with alcoholic liver disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR 4) in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has been widely established. We evaluated the biological effects of probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011 and acidophilus R0052), KRG (Korea red ginseng), and urushiol (Rhus verniciflua Stokes) on ALD, including their effects on normal and high-fat diet in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred C57BL/6 mice were classified into normal (N) and high-fat diet (H) groups. Each group was divided into 5 sub-groups: control, alcohol, alcohol+probiotics, alcohol+KRG, and alcohol+urushiol. A liver function test, histology, electron-microscopy, interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, and IL-10, and TLR 4 were evaluated and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the N group, probiotics, KRG, and urushiol significantly reduced levels of TNF-α (12.3±5.1, 13.4±3.9, and 12.1±4.3 vs. 27.9±15.2 pg/mL) and IL-1β (108.4±39.4, 75.0±51.0, and 101.1±26.8 vs. 162.4±37.5 pg/mL), which were increased by alcohol. Alcohol-induced TLR 4 expression was reduced by probiotics and urushiol (0.7±0.2, and 0.8±0.1 vs. 1.0±0.3, p<0.001). In the H group, IL-10 was significantly increased by probiotics and KRG, compared with alcohol (25.3±15.6 and 20.4±6.2 vs. 7.6±5.6 pg/mL) and TLR 4 expression was reduced by probiotics (0.8±0.2 vs. 1.0±0.3, p = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol-induced TLR 4 expression was down-regulated by probiotics in the normal and high-fat diet groups. Probiotics, KRG, and urushiol might be effective in the treatment of ALD by regulating the gut-liver axis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Meegun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical science, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hak
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Joon
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, South Korea; Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ki Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Suk
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yeon Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Agriculture and Life Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Myong Jo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Soon Koo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Baik
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency medical technology, Daewon University College, Jecheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Lim
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002396:Catechols / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002396:Catechols; D016207:Cytokines; C493487:Tlr4 protein, mouse; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; C003747:urushiol