title: Evaluation of the expression of I-FABP and L-FABP in a necrotizing enterocolitis model after the use of Lactobacillus acidophilus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe intestinal disease that primarily affects premature babies, leading to high mortality and morbidity. Probiotics represent an important alternative prophylaxis for NEC but its mechanism of action is poorly understood. Moreover, intestinal and liver-type fatty acid-binding proteins (I-FABP and L-FABP) may be utilized because markers of intestinal injury, including NEC. We aimed to evaluate the protection induced by the Lactobacillus acidophilus on the intestines of newborn rats submitted to experimental NEC using I-FABP and L-FABP as biomarkers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague-Dawley newborn rats were divided into three groups: (1) C (control)-breast-fed; (2) NEC-subjected to NEC protocol and (3) NECP-NEC+probiotic. Morphometric, intestinal lesion, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analysis were performed. Statistical significant differences were considered when p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intestinal weight was lower in NEC and NECP compared to C (p<0.05). Intestinal injury was lower in NECP compared to NEC. Prophylactic probiotic recovered mucosa and muscular layers' thickness to C levels (p<0.05). I-FABP and L-FABP expressions in NECP showed intermediate values between C and NEC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  L. acidophilus had a protective effect on the development of NEC and FABPs could demonstrate the degree of tissular damage of the intestine.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Fetal Surgery "Michael Harrison", Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo-USP, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Frances Lilian Lanhellas
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Fetal Surgery "Michael Harrison", Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo-USP, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas Manoel Mangueira
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Fetal Surgery "Michael Harrison", Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo-USP, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rebeca Lopes
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Figueira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Fetal Surgery "Michael Harrison", Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo-USP, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Leda Bertoncini
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Fetal Surgery "Michael Harrison", Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo-USP, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Melo
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gallindo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Fetal Surgery "Michael Harrison", Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo-USP, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: sbragia45@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Lourenço
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sbragia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
keywords: Enterocolitis necrotizing; Fatty acid-binding proteins; Probiotics; Rats