<i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> NK3 and <i>Bifidobacterium longum</i> NK49 Alleviate Bacterial Vaginosis and Osteoporosis in Mice by Suppressing NF- <i>κ</i> B-Linked TNF- <i>α</i> Expression

Abstract

Excessive expression of TNF-<i>α</i> worsens bacterial vaginosis (BV) and osteoporosis. Therefore, to understand whether probiotics could alleviate vaginosis and osteoporosis, we isolated anti-inflammatory <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> NK3 and <i>Bifidobacterium longum</i> NK49 from kimchi and human fecal lactic acid bacteria collection and examined their effects on <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i> (GV)-induced vaginosis and ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in female mice. Oral gavage of NK3 and/or NK49 significantly alleviated GV-induced vaginosis; these inhibited NF-<i>κ</i>B activation and TNF-<i>α</i> expression in the vagina and uterus, and decreased the GV population in the vagina. Furthermore, treatment with NK3 and/or NK49 alleviated ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis and obesity; these increased blood calcium, phosphorus, and osteocalcin levels and suppressed body weight. GV-induced vaginosis and ovariectomy increased colonic myeloperoxidase activity, TNF-<i>α</i> expression, and fecal Proteobacteria population. NK3 and/or NK49 treatments reduced TNF-<i>α</i> expression and NF-<i>κ</i>B activation in the colon. NK3 and NK49 treatment also restored GV- or ovariectomy-disrupted gut microbiota composition. In conclusion, NK3 and NK49 may simultaneously alleviate BV and osteoporosis by suppressing NF-<i>κ</i>B-linked TNF-<i>α</i> expression through the regulation of gut microbiota population.