Surfactin Containing Bacillus licheniformis-Fermented Products Alleviate Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis by Inhibiting Colonic Inflammation and the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Mice

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a non-infectious disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Currently, management of IBD is still a clinical challenge. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of surfactin containing Bacillus licheniformis-fermented products (SBLF) and commercial surfactin (CS) on the treatment of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in a mouse model. We found that mice that received drinking water containing 3% DSS developed significant colitis symptoms, including increased disease activity index, body weight loss, shortening of the colon length, splenomegaly, colonic inflammation and colonic NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. Notably, orally received SBLF, CS or clinical anti-inflammatory drug 5-aminosalicylic acid improved DSS-induced colitis symptoms in mice. These findings show that SBLF can improve IBD in mice by reducing colonic inflammation and inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome activation, suggesting that SBLF has the potential to be used as a nutraceutical in humans or a feed additive in economic and companion animals for preventing IBD.

Heat-Killed Saccharomyces boulardii Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis by Restoring the Intestinal Barrier, Reducing Inflammation, and Modulating the Gut Microbiota

“…In particular, the spleen index is closely related to adaptive immune responses as the spleen serves as a site for immune cell proliferation and differentiation [ 27 ]. Previous studies have shown that the spleen enlarges under immune activation during the occurrence and development of colitis [ 28 , 29 ]. We observed that DSS induction significantly increased the spleen index in mice, while treatment with S. boulardii , heat-killed S. boulardii , and S. boulardii β-glucan reduced the spleen index, indicating an immunomodulatory effect on UC mice.…”

Involvement of the Bacillus SecYEG Pathway in Biosurfactant Production and Biofilm Formation

“…Te YerP protein has been implicated in the surfactin export [43]. B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. amyloliquefaciens, and B. sonorensis produce an important type of biosurfactant that includes lipoproteins and lipopeptides such as surfactin [44][45][46][47]. We also postulate that Rose Bengal treatment indirectly afects the surfactin export by afecting the function of YerP or related export proteins, such as YcxA and KrsE [43], which then prevent the YerP-surfactin interaction.…”

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“…It promotes an increased percentage of T cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen and higher levels of sIgA and IgG in the gut . Administrating B. licheniformis to mice with water improves their condition by reducing inflammation of the colon mucosa and inhibiting the activation of inflammatory processes (Tsai et al, 2022).…”