Intestinal barrier integrity is essential in order to maintain the homeostasis of mucosal functions and efficient defensive reactions against chemical and microbial challenges. An impairment of the intestinal barrier has been observed in several chronic diseases. The gut microbiota and its impact on intestinal homeostasis is well described and numerous studies suggest the ability of some probiotic strains to protect the intestinal epithelial integrity and host homeostasis. In this work, we aimed to assess the beneficial effects of three Lactobacillus strains (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR04, Lacticaseibacillus casei LC03, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CNCM I-4459) and their mechanism of action in low-grade inflammation or neonatal maternal separation models in mice. We compared the impact of these strains to that of the well-known probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG. Our results demonstrated that the three strains have the potential to restore the barrier functions by (i) increasing mucus production, (ii) restoring normal permeability, and (iii) modulating colonic hypersensitivity. Moreover, gene expression analysis of junctional proteins revealed the implication of Claudin 2 and Cingulin in the mechanisms that underlie the interactions between the strains and the host. Taken together, our data suggest that LR04, CNCM I-4459, and LC03 restore the functions of an impaired intestinal barrier.
Keywords: Lactobacillus; barrier functions; chronic diseases; leaky gut; probiotics.