MyD88 mediates the protective effects of probiotics against the arteriolar thrombosis and leukocyte recruitment associated with experimental colitis.

Several studies in IBD patients and in animal models of IBD have revealed a protective effect of probiotics in reducing clinical symptoms of disease and in blunting the gut inflammation that accompanies this condition. However, the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of probiotics is currently unknown. Furthermore, the ability of probiotics to influence the enhanced thrombus development that accompanies IBD has not been studied. This study addresses whether the enhanced extra-intestinal thrombosis (induced by light/dye injury) associated with experimental colitis is altered by oral treatment with the probiotic preparation VSL#3 or by the absence of microbiota. Colitis was induced by DSS 3% in Swiss Webster mice, germ free mice, C57BL/6 WT or Myd88−/− mice. In some experiments, mice received VSL#3 for 8 days before and during DSS feeding. Swiss Webster mice were also subjected to a chronic model of DSS colitis and the effect of VSL#3 was evaluated. VSL#3 treatment significantly attenuated the accelerated thrombus formation observed in both acute and chronic models of colitis. VSL#3-treated mice also exhibited attenuated inflammatory response and injury in the colon. The protective effects of VSL#3 on colitis-associated thrombogenesis and inflammation were not evident in MyD88-deficient mice. Our results suggest that improved control of the enteric microflora in IBD may afford protection against the hypercoagulable, prothrombotic state that follows this condition.