HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: gut.2005.084194v1 55/8/1090    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ait-Belgnaoui, A Articles by Theodorou, V Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ait-Belgnaoui, A Articles by Theodorou, V Topic Collections Related Article

Lactobacillus farciminis treatment suppresses stress induced visceral hypersensitivity: a possible action through interaction with epithelial cell cytoskeleton contraction

Neuro-Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, UMR 1054 INRA/ESAP, Toulouse, France

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr V Theodorou
UMR 1054, INRA/ESAP, Neuro-Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, 180 chemin de Tournefeuille, BP 3, 31931 Toulouse cedex 9, France; vtheodor{at}toulouse.inra.fr

ABSTRACT
Background: Stress induced increase in colonic paracellular permeability results from epithelial cell cytoskeleton contraction and is responsible for stress induced hypersensitivity to colorectal distension (CRD). The probiotic Lactobacillus farciminis releases spontaneously nitric oxide (NO) in the colonic lumen in vivo and exerts anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed: (i) to evaluate the effects of L farciminis on stress induced hypersensitivity to CRD and increase in colonic paracellular permeability; and (ii) to ascertain whether these effects are NO mediated and related to changes in colonocyte myosin light chain phosphorylation (p-MLC).

Methods: Female Wistar rats received either 10¹¹ CFU/day of L farciminis or saline orally over 15 days before partial restraint stress (PRS) or sham-PRS application. Visceral sensitivity to CRD and colonic paracellular permeability was assessed after PRS or sham-PRS. Haemoglobin was used as an NO scavenger. Western blotting for MLC kinase, MLC, and p-MLC were performed in colonic mucosa from L farciminis treated and control rats after PRS or sham-PRS.

Results: PRS significantly increased the number of spike bursts for CRD pressures of 30–60 mm Hg as well as colonic paracellular permeability. L farciminis treatment prevented both effects, while haemoglobin reversed the protective effects of L farciminis. p-MLC expression increased significantly from 15 to 45 minutes after PRS, and L farciminis treatment prevented this increase.

Conclusion: L farciminis treatment prevents stress induced hypersensitivity, increase in colonic paracellular permeability, and colonocyte MLC phosphorylation. This antinociceptive effect occurs via inhibition of contraction of colonic epithelial cell cytoskeleton and the subsequent tight junction opening, and may also involve direct or indirect effects of NO produced by this probiotic.

Abbreviations: CRD, colorectal distension; EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; MLC, myosin light chain; MLCK, myosin light chain kinase; p-MLC, phosphorylated myosin light chain; NO, nitric oxide; PRS, partial restraint stress; TNBS, trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid

Keywords: probiotics; stress; colon sensitivity; epithelial cells; nitric oxide

Related Article

Digest

Robin Spiller and Alastair Watson
Gut 2006 55: 1061. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. M M Quigley Probiotics in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An Immunomodulatory Strategy? J. Am. Coll. Nutr., December 1, 2007; 26(6): 684S - 690S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Eutamene and L. Bueno Role of probiotics in correcting abnormalities of colonic flora induced by stress Gut, November 1, 2007; 56(11): 1495 - 1497. [Full Text] [PDF]