Suppression of TLR-4-related inflammatory pathway and anti-fibrosis effects of probiotic-fermented purple sweet potato yogurt in hearts of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Chin J Physiol. 2013 Jun 30;56(3):174-83. doi: 10.4077/CJP.2013.BAB118.

Abstract

Inflammation plays an important role in triggering fibrosis of cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has hypotensive effect; GABA concentration could be enhanced in milk fermented with lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This study evaluated the effect of probiotic-fermented purple sweet potato yogurt (PSPY) on the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4)-related inflammatory components, and on fibrosis in the heart of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). TLR4-related pathway and fibrosis-associated proteins TGFbeta and FGF2 were significantly increased in SHR hearts, but were highly suppressed in 10% PSPY-fed rats. Microscopic examination with Masson trichrome staining of left ventricle further demonstrated that 10% and 100% PSPY both significantly reduced interstitial fibrosis in SHR hearts. These findings indicated that oral administration of 10% probiotic-fermented PSPY was strong enough to lower cardiac fibrosis in SHR rats through the suppression of TLR-4-related inflammatory pathway. Therefore, PSPY may be included in diets to help prevent cardiac fibrosis in patients with hypertension.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fibrosis
  • Heart Diseases / pathology
  • Heart Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Hypertension / diet therapy*
  • Hypertension / pathology
  • Inflammation Mediators / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Inflammation Mediators / physiology
  • Ipomoea batatas*
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus
  • Lactobacillus delbrueckii
  • Male
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred SHR
  • Rats, Inbred WKY
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / physiology
  • Yogurt*

Substances

  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Tlr4 protein, rat
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4