Effect of oral administration of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens MDT-1 on experimental enterocolitis in mice

Abstract

Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens MDT-1, a butyrate-producing strain, was evaluated for use as a probiotic to prevent enterocolitis. Oral administration of the MDT-1 strain (10(9) CFU/dose) alleviated the symptoms of colitis (including body weight loss, diarrhea, bloody stool, organic disorder, and mucosal damage) that are induced in mice drinking water that contains 3.0% dextran sulfate sodium. In addition, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity levels in colonic tissue were reduced, suggesting that MDT-1 mitigates bowel inflammation. The addition of MDT-1 culture supernatant inhibited the growth of nine clinical isolates of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli that could potentially cause enterocolitis. Infection of mice with C. coli 11580-3, one of the isolates inhibited by MDT-1 in vitro, resulted in diarrhea, mucosal damage, increased MPO activity levels in colonic tissue, increased numbers of C. coli in the cecum, and decreased body weight gain. However, administration of MDT-1 to mice, prior to and during C. coli infection, reduced these effects. These results suggest that Campylobacter-induced enterocolitis can be alleviated by using B. fibrisolvens as a probiotic.

FIG. 1.

Protocols for animal experiments 1 (A) and 2 (B). Group A, addition of 0.8% NaCl solution (N) for 10 days (control); group B, addition of 0.8% NaCl for 3 days and then DSS (D); group C, addition of B. fibrisolvens MDT-1 (B) for 3 days and then DSS; group D, addition of C. butyricum (Cb) for 3 days and then DSS; group E, addition of 0.8% NaCl for 10 days (control); group F, addition of 0.8% NaCl for 10 days and C. coli (Cc) on day 0; group G, addition of B. fibrisolvens MDT-1 for 10 days and C. coli on day 0. A, autopsy.

FIG. 2.

Effects of the oral administration of DSS, B. fibrisolvens MDT-1, and C. butyricum on the body weight (A), stool consistency score (B), fecal blood score (C), and disease activity index (DAI) (D) of mice. (○) Group A, DSS (−)/bacteria (−). (□) Group B, DSS (+)/bacteria (−). (•) Group C, DSS (+)/MDT-1 (+). (▪) Group D, DSS (+)/C. butyricum (+). + or − in parentheses indicates the presence or absence, respectively, of DSS, B. fibrisolvens MDT-1, and C. butyricum (bacteria). Data are expressed as means ± SE (n = 10). Different letters (a to c) at each time point indicate a significant difference between groups (P < 0.05).

FIG. 3.

Effect of the oral administration of DSS, B. fibrisolvens MDT-1, and C. butyricum on the histological damage score in mice. Bars indicate SE (n = 5). Different letters (a to c) indicate a significant difference between groups (P < 0.05).

FIG. 4.

Effect of the oral administration of DSS, B. fibrisolvens MDT-1, and C. butyricum on the MPO activity in colonic tissue. *, change in absorbance/g of intestinal tissue. Bars indicate SE (n = 5). Different letters (a to c) indicate a significant difference between groups (P < 0.05).

FIG. 5.

Effect of infection with C. coli 11580-3 and the oral administration of B. fibrisolvens MDT-1 on the stool consistency score in mice. (○) Group E. (□) Group F. (•) Group G. Data are expressed as means ± SE (n = 10). Different letters (a to c) at each time point indicate a significant difference between groups (P < 0.05).

FIG. 6.

Effect of infection with C. coli 11580-3 and the oral administration of B. fibrisolvens MDT-1 on the MPO activity in colonic tissue. *, change in absorbance/g of intestinal tissue. Bars indicate SE (n = 5). Different letters (a and b) indicate a significant difference between groups (P < 0.05).