Probiotic Lactobacillus spp. Act Against Helicobacter pylori-induced Inflammation

Abstract

The bacterial species, <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, is associated with several gastrointestinal diseases, and poses serious health threats owing to its resistance to antibiotics. <i>Lactobacillus</i> spp., on the other hand, possess probiotic activities that have beneficial effects in humans. However, the mechanisms by which <i>Lactobacillus</i> spp. harbor favorable functions and act against <i>H. pylori</i> infection remain to be explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of bacterial strains, <i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</i> and <i>Lactobacillus acidophilus</i>, termed GMNL-74 and GMNL-185, respectively, to inhibit <i>H. pylori</i> growth and inflammation. Our results showed that GMNL-74 and GMNL-185 possess potent antimicrobial activity against multidrug resistant (MDR)-<i>H. pylori</i>. In addition, an in vitro cell-based model revealed that the inhibition of <i>H. pylori</i> adhesion and invasion of gastric epithelial cells and interleukin-8 production were significantly decreased by treatment with both the <i>Lactobacillus</i> strains. In vivo studies demonstrated that colonization of <i>H. pylori</i> and induced inflammation in the mouse stomach were also alleviated by these <i>Lactobacillus</i> strains. Furthermore, the abundance of beneficial gut bacteria, including <i>Bifidobacterium</i> spp. and <i>Akkermansia muciniphilia</i>, were significantly increased in <i>H. pylori</i>-infected mice treated with GMNL-74 and GMNL-185. These results demonstrate that <i>Lactobacillus</i> spp. ameliorate <i>H. pylori</i>-induced inflammation and supports beneficial gut specific bacteria that act against <i>H. pylori</i> infection.