Evaluation of the Effect of Cow’s Milk Kefir on Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) Gene in Liver Rats

Abstract

Chronic hyperglycemia in DM is associated with long-term damage, impaired function, and malfunction of various organs, in particular hepatic, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels. 1 There is an increase in TNF-α production in the pathogenesis of DM. 2 This increase in TNF-α levels occurs due to the dysregulation of the work of insulin so that hepar glucose production increases and causes chronic hyperglycemia. The increase in TNF-α levels in hepar also causes an increase in the activity of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) or known as NOS2 in the liver by 45-70% through up-regulation of the Nuclear Transcription Factor pathway. 3 Kefir seeds are a mixture of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacilli, Lactococci, Lactobacillus kefir, Lactobacillus parakefir, Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens, and Lactobacillus kefirgramum) with yeast and acetic acid bacteria. 4 Supplementation of clear kefir at a dose of 3.6 mL / 200 grams of body weight for 4 weeks can lower blood glucose levels and levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 in Wistar hyperglycemia rats induced with streptozotocin. 5