Germinated Rhynchosia nulubilis Fermented with Lactobacillus pentosus SC65 Reduces Particulate Matter Induced Type II Alveolar Epithelial Apoptotic Cell Death

Abstract

Particulate matter (PM) is a significant environmental pollutant that promotes respiratory diseases, including lung injury and inflammation, by inducing oxidative stress. Rhynchosia nulubilis (black soybean) is traditionally used to prevent chronic respiratory disease via inducing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. To investigate the effects of Lactobacillus pentosus SC65 fermented GR (GR-SC65) and Pediococcus pentosaceus ON81A (GR-ON81A) against PM-induced oxidative stress and cell death in A549 cells, we performed the 2-7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and cell counting kit-8 assays, as well as Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide staining and western blotting. GR-SC65 showed the highest total polyphenolic contents and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylidrazil radical scavenging activity among lactic acid bacteria-fermented GRs (p < 0.001 vs. GR). Four soy peptides, β-conglycinin breakdowns (INAENNQRNF, ISSEDKPFN, LAFPGSAQAVEK, and LAFPGSAKDIEN), were detected in GR-SC65, but not in GR. In GR-SC65, PM-induced A549 cell death was less than that observed in GR-ON81A and GR (p < 0.001 vs. PM-treated group). GR-SC65 significantly decreased intracellular reactive oxidative species (ROS) when compared with PM (*** p < 0.001 vs. PM). GR-SC65 decreased the levels of BAX, active caspase-9, -3, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) proteins (#p < 0.01, ###p < 0.001 vs. PM), while increasing the level of BCL-2 protein, a mitochondrial anti-apoptotic protein (###p < 0.001 vs. PM). Our findings indicate that GR-SC65 inhibited PM-induced cell death by suppressing the levels of ROS, active caspase-9 and -3, and PARP proteins, while enhancing the level of BCL-2 protein in type II alveolar epithelial A549 cells. Therefore, GR-SC65 might be a potential therapeutic and preventive agent against PM-induced lung injury.

Probiotic Pediococcus pentosaceus ameliorates MPTP-induced oxidative stress via regulating the gut microbiota–gut–brain axis

“…Similarly, P. pentosaceus ZJUAF-4 increased the activity of SOD, while it reduced the production of ROS and MDA and relieved oxidative stress injury in mice induced by quinoline ( Hao et al., 2021 ). Additionally, Lactobacillus pentosus , one of the GABA-producing bacteria, significantly decreased the intracellular ROS and inhibited particulate matter-induced cell death ( Lee and Park, 2021 ). Lactobacillus paracasei PS23 could also upregulate the expression level of antioxidant genes, improve the activity of SOD, and alleviate the motor and anxiety behavior in aging mice ( Cheng et al., 2022 ).…”

Negative Feedback of the cAMP/PKA Pathway Regulates the Effects of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation on Type II Alveolar Epithelial Cell Pyroptosis as a Novel Mechanism of BLM-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

“…Our study has certain deficiencies, which needs to be further explored. A549 cell line is a neoplastic cell line, although several researches have used it as a type II AECs [ 34 , 35 ]. In addition, it is unclear whether the upregulation of cAMP/PKA pathway could suppress BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis through inhibiting ER stress-induced pyroptosis of type II AECs.…”