Streptococcus thermophilus NCIMB 41856 ameliorates signs of colitis in an animal model of inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is mainly based on suppression of symptoms, often with numerous side effects. Trials of probiotics in IBD have frequently produced disappointing results. The majority of probiotics are unusual, since they do not require iron for growth, unlike many bacteria resident in the intestine. The IBD intestine is iron-rich due to bleeding and use of oral iron supplements; conventional probiotics would be rapidly outcompeted. We have evaluated an iron-responsive Streptococcus thermophilus strain for its potential to reduce signs of colitis. Efficacy of S. thermophilus was evaluated in the dextran sodium sulphate mouse model of colitis. Treated animals were given 1×108 cfu S. thermophilus per day and clinical observations were taken daily. At termination, gross and histopathological signs of disease, cellular infiltration, location of bacteria, and cytokine expression in the intestine were determined. S. thermophilus delayed onset of colitis and reduced clinical signs of disease, including bodyweight loss and gastrointestinal bleeding. It reduced bacterial translocation into the colonic tissue. Increased numbers of CD8+ intraepithelial lymphocytes were seen in control animals treated with S. thermophilus. S. thermophilus had no effect on gross pathology, histopathology or cytokine production in either colitic or control animals. We propose that S. thermophilus promotes maintenance of mucosal barrier function which reduces bacterial translocation, thereby reducing immune stimulation and associated inflammation. This allows mucosal healing, reducing gastrointestinal bleeding and weight loss. This could be studied as a locally-acting adjunct or alternative to current IBD treatments.

Yogurt starter cultures of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus ameliorate symptoms and modulate the immune response in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis

“…We found no microbes translocated across the intestinal barrier of the DSS-YC mice in blood, MLN, and other organs (E. Wasilewska, unpublished data). Bailey et al (2017) showed that S. thermophilus NCIMB 41856 delayed onset of colitis and reduced clinical signs of disease in a DSS-colitis mouse model. Those authors did not observe a difference in the amount of microbes attached to the colonic epithelium between DSS and DSS+S.…”

A probiotic complex, rosavin, zinc, and prebiotics ameliorate intestinal inflammation in an acute colitis mouse model

“…Treatment with Bifidobacterium longum ameliorates colorectal colitis in rats by altering the methylation level of the Foxp3 promoter, resulting in an increased number of Treg cells [ 35 ]. Moreover, Streptococcus thermophilus suppresses bacterial translocation, which reduces gastrointestinal bleeding and weight loss [ 36 ].…”

Discovery of a Novel Multi-Strains Probiotic Formulation with Improved Efficacy toward Intestinal Inflammation

“…For these reasons, we have decided to develop a novel and simplified bacterial formulation consisting of Five different strains: Streptococcus thermophilus (30%), Lactobacillus casei (30%), Bifidobacterium breve (15%), Bifidobacterium animalis (15%) and Bacillus subtilis (10%). All the strains chosen for the new formulation have been studied extensively and there are a number of studies supporting their beneficial effects in preclinical and clinical settings [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ] and four of them, excluding Bacillus subtilis, are included in the De Simone formulation, and their effectiveness in reducing intestinal inflammation has been validated through a number of studies in preclinical and clinical settings in the last two decades.…”

“…In addition to Bacilus subtilis , other probiotic strains such as Streptococcus thermophilus [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ], Lactobacillus casei [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ], Bifidobacterium breve [ 26 , 27 , 28 ] and Bifidobacterium animalis [ 29 , 30 , 31 ] have proven effective in reducing intestinal inflammation in pre-clinical models of IBDs, suggesting that a combination of Bacillus subtilis with these strains, by combining different metabolic and immune-modulatory effects [ 8 ], would exert an enhanced anti-inflammatory activity in comparison to the single strain formulation. Bacillus subtilis belong to the Bacillaceae family who are spore forming bacteria that are supposed to germinate in the living intestine unlike the Bifidocateria which are available as lyophilized preparations of vegetative cells [ 32 ].…”