Suchergebnisse

Probiotics, included in functional foods, nutritional supplements, or nutraceuticals, exhibit different beneficial effects on gut function. They are extensively used to improve the digestive processes as well as reduce the symptoms and progression of different diseases. Probiotics have shown to improve dysbiosis and modulate the immune response of the host by interacting with different cell types. Probiotics and the host can interact in a direct way, but it is becoming apparent that communication occurs also through extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from probiotics. EVs are key for bacteria–bacteria and bacteria–host interactions, since they carry a wide variety of components that can modulate different signaling pathways, including those involved in the immune response. Interestingly, EVs are recently starting to be considered as an alternative to probiotics in those cases for which the use of live bacteria could be dangerous, such as immunocompromised individuals or situations where the intestinal barrier is impaired. EVs can spread through the mucus layer and interact with the host, avoiding the risk of sepsis. This review summarizes the existing knowledge about EVs from different probiotic strains, their properties, and their potential use for the prevention or treatment of different gastrointestinal diseases. ; This work was supported by Junta de Andalucia (Spain) (research grants CTS 164 and PI-0206-2016) and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (research grant AGL2015-67995-C3-3-R) and cofinanced by the Fondo Europeo de Desarollo Regional (FEDER) from the European Union. JA-MT is a Ph.D. student from the Postgraduate Program Nutricion y Ciencias de los Alimentos at the University of Granada (Spain). The CIBER-EHD is funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III.

Pyruvate is a normal constituent of the body that participates in carbohydrate metabolism and functions as a scavenger of free radicals. Calcium pyruvate monohydrate (CPM) is a more stable derivative that has proved its anti-inflammatory effect in experimental colitis, among other disorders, and that could also be considered a source of calcium. Thus, it would be useful for the treatment of diseases with an inflammatory component and a high prevalence of osteoporosis like the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of CPM in a rat model of chronic post-inflammatory visceral pain induced by deoxycholic acid (DCA) that resembles IBS. Rats were administered DCA for three days intracolonically and then treated daily with CPM (40 and 100 mg/kg) or gabapentin (70 mg/kg) (positive control) by oral gavage for 17 days. The treatments reduced the visceral hypersensitivity measured by response to colorectal distension and referred pain. DCA induced changes in the colonic immune response characterized by increased expression of the cytokine Il-1b and the inducible enzyme Cox-2, which was reduced by the treatments. DCA also decreased the gut expression of the mucins Muc-2 and Muc-3, which was normalized by CPM, whereas gabapentin only increased significantly Muc-3. Moreover, DCA increased the expression of Tlr3, which was decreased to basal levels by all the treatments. However, the serotonin receptor Htr-4, which was also elevated, was not affected by any of the treatments, indicating no effect through this signalling pathway. In conclusion, CPM ameliorated the visceral hypersensitivity and the referred pain caused by DCA, being as effective as the control drug. Furthermore, it improved the immune status of the animals, which could contribute to the visceral analgesia and the regeneration of the intestinal epithelial barrier integrity. ; This work was supported by the Junta de Andalucía (CTS 164) and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (AGL2015-67995-C3-3-R) with funds from the European Union. The CIBER-EHD is funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III.

Nowadays, there is an increasing interest in alternative therapies in the treatment of metabolic syndrome that combine efficacy and safety profiles. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of an extract of Thymus serpyllum, containing rosmarinic acid, on high-fat diet (HFD)- induced obesity mice, highlighting the impact of its antioxidant activity on the inflammatory status and gut dysbiosis. The extract was administered daily (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg) in HFD-fed mice. The treatment reduced body weight gain, glucose and lipid metabolic profiles. Moreover, the extract ameliorated the inflammatory status, with the c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JUNK) pathway being involved, and showed a significant antioxidant effect by the reduction of radical scavenging activity and the mitigation of lipid peroxidation. Moreover, the extract was able to modulate the altered gut microbiota, restoring microbial richness and diversity, and augmenting the counts of short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria, which have been associated with the maintenance of gut permeability and weight regulation. In conclusion, the antioxidant activity of Thymus serpyllum extract displayed a positive impact on obesity and its metabolic alterations, also reducing systemic inflammation. These effects may be mediated by modulation of the gut microbiota. ; Junta de Andalucia CTS 164 ; Instituto de Salud Carlos III European Commission PI19.01058 ; Spanish Government AGL201567995-C3-3-R ; European Commission ; Instituto de Salud Carlos III