Microbiota Targeted Interventions of Probiotic Lactobacillus as an Anti-Ageing Approach: A Review

Abstract

With the implementation of modern scientific protocols, the average human lifespan has significantly improved, but age-related problems remain a challenge. With the advent of ageing, there are alterations in gut microbiota and gut barrier functions, weak immune responses, increased oxidative stress, and other age-related disorders. This review has highlighted and discussed the current understanding on the significance of gut microbiota dysbiosis and ageing and its inherent effects against age-related oxidative stress as well as on the gut health and gut-brain axis. Further, we have discussed the key mechanism of action of Lactobacillus strains in the longevity of life, alleviating gut dysbiosis, and improving oxidative stress and inflammation to provide an outline of the role of Lactobacillus strains in restoration of gut microbiota dysbiosis and alleviating certain conditions during ageing. Microbiota-targeted interventions of some characterized strains of probiotic Lactobacillus for the restoration of gut microbial community are considered as a potential approach to improve several neurological conditions. However, very limited human studies are available on this alarmed issue and recommend further studies to identify the unique Lactobacillus strains with potential anti-ageing properties and to discover its novel core microbiome-association, which will help to increase the therapeutic potential of probiotic Lactobacillus strains to ageing.

Keywords: ageing; elderly; gut microbiota; oxidative stress; probiotic Lactobacillus.

Figure 1

Immune responses induced by lactic acid bacteria. LAB can stimulate immune responses via two major pathways: inflammation and anticancer immune responses. The inflammation pathways include lipoteichoic acid (LTA) which stimulates T cells to release interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-12 and increase effectors Foxp3 + RORγt -Tregs. In the anticancer immune responses pathway, LAB stimulate the immune cells, such as T cells, dendritic cells (DC), natural killer (NK), and MHC class Ⅱ cells to induce IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and IL-1β to inhibit tumor growth. Adopted from [69].

Figure 2

Modulation of antioxidation by probiotics: (1) Chelate metal ions. (2) Possessing their own antioxidation system. (3) Production of antioxidant metabolites. (4) Up-regulation of antioxidant activities of the host. (5) Alleviating the levels of antioxidant metabolites of the host. (6) Regulating signaling pathways. (7) Down-regulation of activities of enzymes producing ROS. (8) Regulation of intestinal microbiota. Adopted from [87].