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Mechanisms Underlying Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction and Probiotics-Focused Interventions

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Prebiotics and Probiotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2023) | Viewed by 10511

Special Issue Editors

Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, Medical School, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11, I-70124 Bari, Italy
Interests: immunonutrition; polyphenols and probiotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Interests: probiotics; microbiota; dysbiosis; inflammation; tissue repair; tumor biology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Intestinal barrier function is crucial for normal homeostasis of the gut, and the breakdown or dysfunction of this barrier is correlated with local and systemic diseases including infection by pathogens, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Inflammation is necessary for intestinal epithelial wound healing, but it leads to tissue damage when uncontrolled. Fibrosis is a severe complication of chronic inflammatory disorders, such as IBD for which no fully effective strategies are available.

Currently, most treatments aim at reducing inflammation at damaged mucosal sites, however, these approaches do not effectively shut down the inflammation process nor repair the epithelial barrier, nor slow down progression or reverse fibrosis. An extensive body of research suggests that probiotics and probiotic-derived fractions can affect several aspects of intestinal barrier function, supporting their therapeutic potential in diseases involving a dysfunctional gut barrier.

For this special issue, we would like to invite contributions that investigate the mechanisms underlying intestinal barrier dysfunction and associated inflammation and/or fibrosis and, at the same time, identify the targets for the development of novel approaches based on probiotics or probiotic-derived fractions.

Prof. Dr. Emilio Jirillo
Dr. Francesca Lombardi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • probiotics
  • probiotic-derived fractions
  • intestinal barrier dysfunction
  • gut inflammation
  • intestinal fibrosis

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 3683 KiB  
Article
Co-Cultures of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacillus subtilis Enhance Mucosal Barrier by Modulating Gut Microbiota-Derived Short-Chain Fatty Acids
by Zhengjun Xie, Meng Li, Mengqi Qian, Zhiren Yang and Xinyan Han
Nutrients 2022, 14(21), 4475; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214475 - 25 Oct 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2686
Abstract
Weaning stress induces intestinal barrier dysfunction and immune dysregulation in mammals. Various interventions based on the modulation of intestinal microbiota have been proposed. Our study aims to explore the effects of co-cultures from Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacillus subtilis (FAM®) on intestinal [...] Read more.
Weaning stress induces intestinal barrier dysfunction and immune dysregulation in mammals. Various interventions based on the modulation of intestinal microbiota have been proposed. Our study aims to explore the effects of co-cultures from Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacillus subtilis (FAM®) on intestinal mucosal barrier from the perspective of metabolic function of gut microbiota. A total of 180 piglets were allocated to three groups, i.e., a control group (C, basal diet), a FAM group (F, basal diet supplemented with 0.1% FAM), and an antibiotic group (A, basal diet supplemented with antibiotic mixtures). Here, we showed FAM supplementation significantly increased body weight and reduced diarrhea incidence, accompanied by attenuated mucosal damage, increased levels of tight junction proteins, serum diamine oxidase (DAO) and antimicrobial peptides. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomic analysis revealed an increase in relative abundance of Clostridiales, Ruminococcaceae, Firmicutes and Muribaculaceae and a significant increase in the total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and butyric acid in FAM-treated piglets. FAM also increased CD4+ T cells and SIgA+ cells in intestinal mucosa and SIgA production in colon contents. Furthermore, FAM upregulated the expression of IL-22, short-chain fatty acid receptors GPR43 and GPR41, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). FAM shows great application prospect in gut health and provides a reference for infant weaning. Full article
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15 pages, 3016 KiB  
Article
Lactobacillus casei Improve Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs-Induced Intestinal Adverse Reactions in Rat by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids
by Yue Li, Liangjie Zhao, Meiling Hou, Tianlin Gao, Jin Sun, Hao Luo, Fengdan Wang, Feng Zhong, Aiguo Ma and Jing Cai
Nutrients 2022, 14(8), 1668; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14081668 - 17 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2617
Abstract
The adverse effects of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs in the intestines were related to alteration of the intestinal microbiota. However, there was less information about microbial metabolism on the adverse reactions. This study aimed to explore whether Lactobacillus casei could regulate gut microbiota or [...] Read more.
The adverse effects of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs in the intestines were related to alteration of the intestinal microbiota. However, there was less information about microbial metabolism on the adverse reactions. This study aimed to explore whether Lactobacillus casei could regulate gut microbiota or short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) disorders to protect intestinal adverse reactions induced by isoniazid (H) and rifampicin (R). Male Wistar rats were given low and high doses of Lactobacillus casei two hours before daily administration of anti-TB drugs. After 42 days, colon tissue and blood were collected for analysis. The feces at two-week and six-week were collected to analyze the microbial composition and the content of SCFAs in colon contents was determined. Supplementation of Lactobacillus casei increased the proportion of intestinal goblet cells induced by H and R (p < 0.05). In addition, HR also reduced the level of mucin-2 (p < 0.05), and supplementation of Lactobacillus casei restored. After two weeks of HR intervention, a decrease in OTUs, diversity index, the abundance of Bacteroides, Akkermansia, and Blautia, and an increase of the abundance of Lacetospiraceae NK4A136 group and Rumencoccus UCG-005, were observed compared with the control group (p all < 0.05). These indices in Lactobacillus casei intervention groups were similar to the HR group. Six-week intervention resulted in a dramatic reduction of Lacetospiraceae NK4A136 group, butyric acid, valeric acid and hexanoic acid, while an increase of Bacteroides and Blautia (p all < 0.05). Pretreatment with Lactobacillus casei significantly increased the content of hexanoic acid compared with HR group (p < 0.05). Lactobacillus casei might prevent intestinal injury induced by anti-tuberculosis drugs by regulating gut microbiota and SCFAs metabolism. Full article
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Review

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27 pages, 493 KiB  
Review
Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction and Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis: Possible Implications in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder
by Vanessa Nadia Dargenio, Costantino Dargenio, Stefania Castellaneta, Andrea De Giacomo, Marianna Laguardia, Federico Schettini, Ruggiero Francavilla and Fernanda Cristofori
Nutrients 2023, 15(7), 1620; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15071620 - 27 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4575
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with multifactorial etiology, characterized by impairment in two main functional areas: (1) communication and social interactions, and (2) skills, interests and activities. ASD patients often suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms associated with dysbiotic states and [...] Read more.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with multifactorial etiology, characterized by impairment in two main functional areas: (1) communication and social interactions, and (2) skills, interests and activities. ASD patients often suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms associated with dysbiotic states and a “leaky gut.” A key role in the pathogenesis of ASD has been attributed to the gut microbiota, as it influences central nervous system development and neuropsychological and gastrointestinal homeostasis through the microbiota–gut–brain axis. A state of dysbiosis with a reduction in the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio and Bacteroidetes level and other imbalances is common in ASD. In recent decades, many authors have tried to study and identify the microbial signature of ASD through in vivo and ex vivo studies. In this regard, the advent of metabolomics has also been of great help. Based on these data, several therapeutic strategies, primarily the use of probiotics, are investigated to improve the symptoms of ASD through the modulation of the microbiota. However, although the results are promising, the heterogeneity of the studies precludes concrete evidence. The aim of this review is to explore the role of intestinal barrier dysfunction, the gut–brain axis and microbiota alterations in ASD and the possible role of probiotic supplementation in these patients. Full article
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