Background: An altered gut microbiota balance is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and several probiotic strains are used as dietary supplements to improve intestinal health. We evaluated the therapeutic effect of 12 probiotics in combination with prebiotics, rosavin, and zinc in the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model.
Methods: The probiotic complex or the combination drug was administered orally to mice with DSS-induced colitis, and the body weight, disease activity index, colon length, and histopathological parameters were evaluated. Also, the combination drug was applied to HT-29 epithelial cells, and the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Administration of the combination drug attenuated the severity of DSS-induced colitis. Moreover, the combination drug significantly reduced the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and IL-17, and significantly increased the levels of Foxp3 and IL-10 in colon sections. Additionally, treatment with the combination drug reduced MCP-1 expression in HT-29 cells. Treatment with the combination drug decreased the levels of α-smooth muscle actin and type I collagen compared with vehicle treatment in mice with DSS-induced colitis.
Conclusion: These results suggest that the combination of a probiotic complex with rosavin, zinc, and prebiotics exerts a therapeutic effect on IBD by modulating production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and the development of fibrosis.
Keywords: Fibrosis; Gut microbiota; Inflammatory bowel disease; Probiotics.