<i>Lactobacillus helveticus</i> LZ-R-5 Ameliorates DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Enhancing Intestinal Barrier Function
Xiaogan Zhao, Tao Lin, Wenkai Jiang, Yihan Lin, Luyao Xiao, Yufang Tian, Kai Ma, Changliang Zhang, Feng Ji, Ghahvechi Chaeipeima Mahsa, Xin Rui, Wei Li
Abstract
LZ-R-5 (R-5), a strain with high epithelial adhesion and bioactive exopolysaccharide production, was isolated from Tibetan kefir grains. This study investigated its potential to alleviate intestinal inflammation using a DSS-induced colitis model in BALB/c mice. We integrated microbial diversity and serological analyses to assess changes in gut flora and cytokines following the R-5 treatment. Pathological assessments showed that R-5 reduced crypt distortion in the proximal colon and mitigated hepatic immune challenges by enhancing gut barrier function. The increased relative expression of TGF-β1 and the downregulation of NLRP3-related inflammatory factors were conducive to preventing organ damage in the thymus and spleen of mice with colitis. Additionally, R-5 stimulated GPR43 expression and improved epithelial nutrition, promoting mucin production to prevent enterotoxin leakage. It also modulated the gut microbiota by suppressing Bacteroides and Erysipelatoclostridium, leading to a microbiota composition more akin to that of normal flora.