Dietary Lactobacillus reuteri prevent from inflammation mediated apoptosis of liver via improving intestinal microbiota and bile acid metabolism

Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) has been recognized as a probiotic to improve liver health, whereas the mecha-nism behind is still unknown. Herein, mice were gavaged with a strain of L. reuteri named SLZX19-12, which was isolated from faeces of healthy Tibetan pigs in our lab to investigate its effects on liver function. The results demonstrated that dietary L. reuteri changed the constituents of bile acid pool, especially influenced on meta-bolism of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). In addition, L. reuteri reduced content of cholestasis-associated micro -biota and effectively prevented liver from inflammatory response and hepatocyte apoptosis under the acute stimulation from LPS. We further revealed UDCA played an important part in protection of liver health during the stimulation of inflammatory factors in vitro. This study provides theoretical support and novel mechanism of action of L. reuteri protects liver from injury and influences on host physical health via regulation of crosstalk between bile acids and gut microbiota.

Automated summary

L. reuteri can improve liver health by changing the composition of bile acids and reducing cholestasis-associated microbiota. It can also prevent liver inflammation and hepatocyte apoptosis. Furthermore, ursodeoxycholic acid plays a crucial role in protecting the liver during inflammatory stimulation.