BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dysbiosis is an important factor in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Several studies have reported promising results using probiotics for the treatment of IBS. This study evaluated the efficacy of novel probiotics isolated from Kimchi, a Korean fermented food, and the feces of healthy Vietnamese people in a murine model of IBS.METHODS: Lactobacillus paracasei DK121 was isolated from Kimchi, and L. salivarius V4 and L. plantarum V7 were isolated from the feces of healthy Vietnamese people residing in Korea. Forty rats were allocated to receive one of the study strains, a mixture of the strains, or the vehicle. After 5 days of administration, the rats were restrained in a cage to induce IBS. The effects of the probiotics on IBS were analyzed by evaluating the stool weights and stool consistency scores.RESULTS: The primary outcome was analyzed upon the completion of a three-week experiment. The rats in the V7 group showed lower stool weights than those in the control group at week 2 (median: 1.10 [V7] vs. 2.35 [control], p=0.04, Mann-Whitney U-test) and week 3 (median: 1.10 [V7] vs. 2.80 [control], p=0.017). The rats in the DK121 (median: 2.00, p=0.007), V7 (median: 2.00, p=0.004), and mixture (median: 1.50, p=0.001) groups showed better stool consistency scores at week 2 than the control group (median: 3.00).CONCLUSIONS: The novel probiotics have beneficial effects on defecation in a murine model of IBS. Human studies confirming the efficacy are warranted.

Background/Aims: The modulation of CD1d-restricted natural killer T (NKT) cells by glycolipids has been considered as a potential therapy against immunologic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease. A recently identified a glycolipid analog, 7DW8-5, which is derived from α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), is as much as 100-fold more active at stimulating both human and mice NKT cells when compared to α-GalCer. We explored the effects of 7DW8-5 in mouse models of acute and chronic colitis. Methods: We investigated the effects of 7DW8-5 on intestinal inflammation by assessing the effects of 7dW8-5 on a murine dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis model and a chronic colitis-associated tumor model. Results: The acute DSS-induced colitis model showed a dose-dependent response to 7DW8-5, as mice administered 7DW8-5 showed a significant improvement in DSS-induced colitis based on their disease activity index, histologic analysis, and serum C-reactive protein levels, when compared to mice administered vehicle alone. However, DSS-induced colitis in CD1d-KO mice showed no response to 7DW8-5. A fluorescence-activating cell sorting analysis revealed an increase in NKT cells in colonic tissues of 7DW8-5-treated mice. RNA-seq and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed a significant increase in the expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and interferon-gamma in 7DW8-5-treated mice. In addition, 7DW8-5 treatment reduced colitis-associated tumor development in an azoxymethane/DSS mouse model. Conclusions 7DW8-5 activates NKT cells through CD1d and provides a protective effect against intestinal inflammation in mice. Therefore, 7DW8-5 may be a promising therapeutic agent for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Purpose: The interest in novel probiotics that improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been growing trend. This study aims to investigate the probiotic effect of three kinds of Lactobacillus strain that are isolated from kimchi. Methods: We used Wister strain rats, male sex. The rat subjects were subdivided into four groups by which to be administered Lactobacillus casei DK128, Lactobacillus paracasei DK121, Lactobacillus platarum DK119 or vesicle only (control). Each Lactobacillus (1× 109 colony forming unit) was administered by oral gavage once daily for 10 days. At day 10, the rats were stressed by being placed in confinement in a restraining stress cage for 1 hour. The stool of the animals were collected after the stress test. The stool weight was recorded and measured in grams, then, each data were transformed to a percentage as compared with the mean stool weight of same age in control group. The stool consistency was scored 0 to 4 (0, normal; 2, loose stool; 4, diarrhea). We compared the stool weight and consistency between the treatments. Results: The total stool weight of the rats was significantly reduced in the L. casei DK128 group (65%, P = 0.0368) and the L. paracasei DK121 group (64%, P = 0.0138), as compared to the control group (100%). The stool consistency of the L. paracasei DK121 group was noted as being better than the control group (2 vs. 4, P= 0.0272). Conclusion Our findings suggest that L. casei DK128 and L. paracasei DK121 has the characteristics of probiotics that could control symptoms of IBS.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastric cancer evolves in the pathologic mucosal milieu, and its development is characterized by both the loss of acid-secreting parietal cells and mucosal cell metaplasia, called spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia (SPEM). Cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-10, IL-1β, and IL-6, play a key role in gastric carcinogenesis. However, changes in the cytokine profile of SPEM have not been evaluated. METHODS: To induce SPEM in mouse stomachs, C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with tamoxifen and sacrificed at 3, 10, and 21 days after treatment. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and a multiplex bead array were used to measure cytokines in the stomachs of tamoxifen-treated/control mice. RESULTS: The administration of tamoxifen led to the rapid development and histological normalization of SPEM 3 and 10 days after administration, respectively. RNA-seq revealed that the expression of IL-10 was decreased 3 days after tamoxifen administration. The multiplex assay identified a significant decline in IL-10 levels 3 days after tamoxifen treatment (58.38±34.44 pg/mL vs 94.09±4.98 pg/mL, p=0.031), which normalized at 10 and 21 days after tamoxifen treatment. Immunofluorescence staining confirmed that IL-10 expression was markedly decreased at the time of SPEM development and subsequently returned to normal, accompanied by a reversal in histologic changes. CONCLUSIONS: IL-10 may play a pivotal role in the tamoxifen-induced acute development of gastric SPEM.
Animals ; Carcinogenesis ; Cytokines ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Gastric Mucosa* ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Metaplasia* ; Mice ; Rabeprazole ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Tamoxifen

No abstract available.
Gastrointestinal Microbiome* ; Proton Pumps* ; Protons*

No abstract available.
Gastrointestinal Microbiome* ; Proton Pumps* ; Protons*