Systematic Investigation of the Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus TW01 on Potential Prevention of Particulate Matter (PM)2.5-Induced Damage Using a Novel In Vitro Platform

Abstract

Exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) and cigarette smoking (CS) is a risk factor for respiratory/lung infections and metabolic disorders. Lung–gut axis disruption involving the upregulation of oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and gut barrier dysfunction by PM is one of the potential mechanisms. Thus, we designed a novel in vitro platform for pre-selecting probiotics with potentially protective effects against PM-induced lung damage through the lung–gut axis to reduce animal usage. The results showed that a high dose of Lactobacillus acidophilus TW01 (1 × 108 CFU/mL) inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. This strain could also reduce respiratory epithelial cell death induced by cigarette smoke extraction (CSE), as well as promoting Caco-2 cell migration in 1 × 106 CFU/mL. Although further animal experiments are needed to validate the in vitro findings, L. acidophilus TW01 is a promising probiotic strain for the potential prevention of PM2.5-induced damage.