Colonic responses to Lactobacillus farciminis treatment in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced colitis in rats

Background: It has recently been shown that Lactobacillus farciminis treatment exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis partly through a nitric oxide release by this strain. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether L. farciminis treatment shares also the general mechanisms of action involved in the beneficial effect of probiotics in the colonic inflammatory process. Methods: Rats received L. farciminis for 15 days before and 4 days after intracolonic administration of TNBS or vehicle. The following parameters were evaluated: macroscopic damage of colonic mucosa, myeloperoxidase activity, cytokine mucosal levels, bacterial profile in colonic content and mucosa, bacterial translocation and colonic paracellular permeability. Results: In the absence of TNBS, L. farciminis treatment reduced colonic paracellular permeability and increased the IL-10 level in the colonic wall. TNBS administration induced colonic macroscopic damage, associated with an increas...