Probiotics in the Mechanism of Protection Against Gut Inflammation and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Disorders

Abstract

A growing body of experimental and clinical evidence supports the hypothesis that the intestinal microbiota markedly influences function and the structure of the mucosal lining. Intestinal microbiota can potentially cause damage to the mucosa either directly by releasing toxins or indirectly by causing a detrimental immune response. Probiotic bacteria have been defined as live microorganisms, which when consumed in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit for the host. In recent years, the therapeutic and preventive application of probiotics for several gastrointestinal and liver disorders has received increasing attention. Probiotics appear to be beneficial for premature infants who suffer necrotizing enterocolitis. The effectiveness of certain probiotics as treatment for infectious and antibioticassociated diarrhea in adults and for allergic disorders in children has been supported by clinical studies; however, the potential mechanism( s) remains to be studied. Experimental studies and clinical trials for probiotic treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have yielded conflicting results. Daily intake of selected probiotics was effective in the prevention of ulcerative colitis and the attenuation of the active onset of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis but others failed to show a beneficial effect. The combination of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces boulardi and the treatment with Escherichia coli Nissle were found beneficial in inducing and maintaining remission of disease activity of gut inflammation and moderately severe ulcerative colitis. Probiotic bacteria were considered in some studies as a safe adjuvant when added to triple eradication therapy against the symptoms induced by the major gastric pathogen, Helicobacter pylori. This review attempted to overview these new exciting advances in the role of these microbes in the pathogenesis, management and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.

The influence of the human microbiome and probiotics on cardiovascular health

“…52,53 Various mechanisms have been studied, including production of bacteriocins, biosurfactants and simple competitive exclusion. [54][55][56] The net effect of suppressing pathogenic activity can be restoration of a 'normal' microbial community.…”

Helicobacter pylori–specific Protection Against Inflammatory Bowel Disease Requires the NLRP3 Inflammasome and IL-18

“…4 Additionally, rather experimental strategies attempt to modulate pathogenic immune responses in models of IBD by the introduction of helminths, such as Heligmosomoides polygyrus 5,6 or Trichuris suis 7,8 or of probiotics (especially Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium species or the Escherichia coli strain Nissle). 9 Chronic gastric infection with the bacterial pathogen Helicobacter pylori causes gastritis and peptic ulcer disease 10 and represents the most important risk factor for gastric cancer 11,12 but has also been linked inversely to the risk of developing allergic diseases and IBD in large epidemiological studies and Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal's Web site (www.ibdjournal.org).…”

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, Proton Pump Inhibitors, and Gastrointestinal Injury: Contrasting Interactions in the Stomach and Small Intestine

“…99 Other regimens capable of modulating the gut microbiota are therefore needed. 100 Based on pilot experimental and clinical results, prebiotics and probiotics might prove efficacious to protect the intestinal mucosa in patients continuing NSAID and PPI therapy.…”