The Probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum Prevents Dysbiosis and Vascular Oxidative Stress in Rats with Hypertension Induced by Chronic Nitric Oxide Blockade
- 2018-08-07
- Molecular Nutrition & Food Research 62(19)
- Iñaki Robles‐Vera
- M. Toral
- Néstor de la Visitación
- M. Sánchez
- M. Romero
- M. Olivares
- R. Jiménez
- J. Duarte
- PubMed: 30028078
- DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201800298
Abstract
Scope: Whether the probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 (LC40) ameliorates hypertension in rats with chronic nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibition is tested.
Methods and results: Rats are randomly divided into four different groups and treated for 4 weeks: a) vehicle (control), b) vehicle plus NG -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; 50 mg 100 mL-1 in drinking water), c) LC40 (109 colony-forming units d-1 by gavage), and d) LC40 plus l-NAME. l-NAME induces gut dysbiosis, characterized mainly by an increased Fimicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio and reduced Bifidobacterium content, increased Th17 cells and reduced Treg in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), increased aortic Th17 infiltration and reactive oxygen species, reduced aortic endothelium-dependent relaxant response to acetylcholine, and hypertension. LC40 prevents gut dysbiosis, alters the Th17/Treg balance in MLN, vascular oxidative stress, and inflammation, slightly improves endothelial dysfuncion but do not inhibit the development of l-NAME-induced hypertension.
Conclusion: Chronic LC40 treatment, in this model of chronic inhibition of NO synthesis, reduces early events involved in atherosclerosis development, such as vascular oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory status, as a result of prevention of gut dysbiosis and immune changes in MLN, but not hypertension, confirming the critical role of NO in the antihypertensive effects of LC40 in genetic hypertension.
Keywords: endothelial dysfunction; immune system; l-NAME- hypertension; nitric oxide; probiotic bacteria; reactive oxygen species.
Research Insights
Supplement | Health Outcome | Effect Type | Effect Size |
---|---|---|---|
Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 | Improved Vascular Endothelial Function | Beneficial | Small |
Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 | Prevention of Intestinal Dysbiosis | Beneficial | Moderate |
Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 | Reduced Aortic Inflammation | Beneficial | Moderate |
Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 | Reduced Elevated Immune Cells in Mesenteric Lymph Nodes | Beneficial | Moderate |
Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 | Reduced Oxidative Stress | Beneficial | Moderate |