Saccharomyces boulardii inhibits Clostridium difficile toxin A binding and enterotoxicity in rat ileum.
- 1993-04
- Gastroenterology 104(4)
- C. Pothoulakis
- C. Kelly
- M. Joshi
- N. Gao
- Connor O’Keane
- I. Castagliuolo
- J. Lamont
- PubMed: 8462799
- DOI: 10.1016/0016-5085(93)90280-P
Study Design
- Type
- Clinical Trial
- Population
- Rats
- Methods
- In vitro and in vivo experimental study
- Highly Cited
- Animal Study
Abstract
Background: Saccharomyces boulardii is a nonpathogenic yeast used for the prevention and treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea and colitis. However, the mechanism by which S. boulardii exerts its protective effects remains unclear.
Methods: The binding of [3H]toxin A to its brush border receptor preincubated with S. boulardii-cultured suspension or filtered conditioned medium was measured in vitro. The effect of toxin A on secretion, epithelial permeability, and morphology in rat ileal loops in vivo was also examined in rats pretreated with S. boulardii.
Results: S. boulardii reduced [3H]toxin A-receptor binding in a dose-dependent fashion. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of ileal brush border exposed to S. boulardii-conditioned medium revealed a diminution of all brush border proteins. Treatment of rats with S. boulardii suspension reduced fluid secretion and mannitol permeability caused by toxin A.
Conclusions: S. boulardii may reduce some of the enterotoxic effects of toxin A by inhibiting toxin A-receptor binding. This effect appears to be manifested by a secreted product of the yeast, possibly a protease.