Probiotics Alleviate Chemotherapy-Associated Intestinal Mucosal Injury via the TLR4-NFκB Signaling Pathway

Drug Des Devel Ther. 2023 Jul 25:17:2183-2192. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S403087. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: Temozolomide (TMZ) induces intestinal mucosa injury that cannot be fully counteracted by supportive treatment. Probiotics regulate gut microbial composition and the host immune system and may alleviate this side effect. We aimed to investigate the potential and mechanism of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) in relieving intestinal mucosal injury induced by TMZ.

Methods: Glioblastoma mice were divided into four groups: CON (control), LGG (109 CFU/mL, treated for 7 days), TMZ (50 mg/kg·d, treated for 5 days), LGG+TMZ (LGG for 7 days and TMZ subsequently for 5 days). Body weight, food intake, and fecal pH were recorded. Intestinal tissue samples were collected 1 day after the end of TMZ treatment. Degree of damage to intestine, expression of IL1β, IL6, TNFα, and IL10 in jejunum were determined. Levels of tight-junction proteins (ZO1, occludin), TLR4, IKKβ, IκBα, and P65 with their phosphorylation in jejunum were measured.

Results: Decreases in body weight, food intake, spleen index in the TMZ group were mitigated in the LGG+TMZ group, and the degree of intestinal shortening and damage to jejunum villus were also alleviated. The expression of tight-junction proteins in the LGG+TMZ group was significantly greater than that in the TMZ group. IκBα in intestinal tissue significantly decreased in the TMZ group, phos-IKKβ and phos-P65 increased compared to the CON group, and LGG reversed such changes in IκBα and phos-P65 in the LGG+TMZ group. Intestinal inflammatory cytokines were significantly increased in the TMZ group, but lower in the LGG+TMZ group. Moreover, expression of TLR4 in LGG group was significantly lower than that in the CON group. LGG inhibited the rise of TLR4 after TMZ in the LGG+TMZ group compared to the TMZ group.

Conclusion: LGG inhibits the activation of the TLR4-NFκB pathway and alleviates intestinal mucosal inflammation induced by TMZ, thereby protect the jejunum villi and mucosal physical barrier.

Keywords: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG; NFκB; TLR4; intestinal mucosal injury; temozolomide.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • I-kappa B Kinase / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Mice
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha / metabolism
  • Probiotics*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tight Junction Proteins / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4* / metabolism

Substances

  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha
  • I-kappa B Kinase
  • Tight Junction Proteins

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Translational Medicine Research Fund of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University (ZLYNXM202011) and the National Health Commission of China (2018ZX-07S-011).