Probiotics have been used for the treatment of chronic metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the mechanisms of antidiabetic effects are not well understood. The object of this study is to assess the antidiabetic effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Y15 isolated from Chinese traditional dairy products in vivo. Results revealed that L. plantarum Y15 administration improved the biochemical indexes related to diabetes, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, L. plantarum Y15 administration reshaped the structure of gut microbiota, decreased the abundance of LPS-producing, and increased short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacteria, which subsequently reduce the levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. L. plantarum Y15 administration also regulated the expressions of the inflammation and insulin signaling pathway-related genes. These results suggest that L. plantarum Y15 may serve as a potential probiotic for developing food products to ameliorate T2D.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a non-specific chronic inflammatory disease with lesions located in the colon and rectum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of exopolysaccharide-1 (EPS-1) isolated by L. helveticus KLDS1.8701 on UC. The anti-inflammatory effects of EPS-1 were studied using dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced UC model. In vivo results showed that EPS-1 administration significantly ameliorated weight loss, colon shortening, disease activity index (DAI) score, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and colon tissue damage. In addition, EPS-1 administration significantly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, EPS-1 administration significantly up-regulated the expression of tight junction proteins and mucin. Furthermore, EPS-1 administration modulated gut microbiota composition caused by DSS and increased the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels. Collectively, our study showed the alleviative effects of EPS- isolated by L. helveticus KLDS1.8701 on DSS-induced UC via alleviating intestinal inflammation, improving mucosal barrier function, and modulating gut microbiota composition.

Obesity is one of the most critical risk factors for diabetes mellitus and plays a significant role in diabetic nephropathy (DN). The present investigation aimed to evaluate the possible mechanism of action of vitexin on obesity-induced DN in a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed experimental C57BL/6 mice model. Obesity was induced in male C57BL/6 mice by chronic administration of HFD, and mice were concomitantly treated with vitexin (15, 30, and 60 mg/kg, p.o.). HFD-induced increased renal oxido-nitrosative stress, and pro-inflammatory cytokines levels were significantly inhibited by vitexin. The Western blot analysis suggested that alteration in renal NF-κB, IκBα, nephrin, AMPK, and ACC phosphorylation levels were effectively restored by vitexin treatment. Histological aberration induced in renal tissue after chronic administration of HFD was also reduced by vitexin. In conclusion, vitexin suppressed the progression of obesity-induced DN via modulation of NF-κB/IkBα and AMPK/ACC pathway in an experimental model of HFD-induced DN in C57BL/6J mice.

This study aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms for the protective effect of Lactobacillus on hypercholesterolemia. Firstly, twenty Lactobacillus strains were screened for potential probiotics with high bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity using in vitro methods. Secondly, hypercholesterolemic mice induced by a cholesterol-enriched diet were administrated by the probiotic candidate strain L. plantarum Y15, identified from the screen. Results in vitro showed that L. plantarum Y15 possessed high BSH activity. In vivo, L. plantarum Y15 supplementation decreased total cholesterol and triglyceride in serum and liver, increased total cholesterol and total bile acid in feces, and alleviated histopathological changes in the liver. Furthermore, L. plantarum Y15 supplementation modulated the gut microbiota to the control group's pattern, leading to increase BSH activity, which further influence FXR and SHP signaling pathway to upregulate the expression level of CYP7A1 to enhance the cholesterol catabolism.Efecto del Lactobacillus plantarum Y15 activo en la hidrolasa de sales biliares de ratones hipercolesterolémicos inducidos por una dieta alta en colesterol RESUMEN Este estudio se propuso dilucidar los mecanismos subyacentes al efecto protector de Lactobacillus sobre la hipercolesterolemia. En primer lugar, se utilizaron métodos in vitro para examinar veinte cepas de Lactobacillus en busca de probióticos potenciales con alta actividad de hidrolasa de sales biliares (BSH). Luego se administró la cepa candidata a probiótico L. plantarum Y15, identificada a partir del cribado, a ratones hipercolesterolémicos inducidos por una dieta enriquecida en colesterol. Los resultados in vitro permitieron comprobar que L. plantarum Y15 posee una elevada actividad BSH. In vivo, la suplementación con L. plantarum Y15 redujo el colesterol total y los triglicéridos en el suero y el hígado, aumentando el colesterol total y el ácido biliar total en las heces y reduciendo los cambios histopatológicos en el hígado. Además, la suplementación con L. plantarum Y15 moduló la microbiota intestinal al patrón del grupo de control, lo que implicó un aumento de la actividad de la BSH, que además influyó en la vía de señalización del FXR y el SHP, regulando al alza el nivel de expresión del CYP7A1 para mejorar el catabolismo del colesterol.