Exploring the Mechanism of a Probiotic Combination VSL#3 in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Study

right ears of mice (N=5) were injected with SbS and the left ears were injected with vehicle as control. The first treatment was administered at 1 hour after 5x10^6 pfu Ad-VEGF-A164 was injected into both ears. The second SbS/vehicle injections were administered 24 hours later. An inhibitory effect of SbS was clearly evident by day 7 with reduced new vessel formation in the right ear compared to the left. The effect of SbS remained evident until the end of the experiment on day 21. 4) DSS (4% for 5 days) was administered to mice to induce colitis. Daily gavage of Sb significantly attenuated weight-loss (N=5,p<0.01). DSS treated mice had significantly increased blood vessel density and volume compared to healthy mice. Sb treatment significantly reduced the neo-vascularization associated with inflammation in the colon. CONCLUSIONS: Sb inhibits VEGFR signaling and reduces neo-vascularization In Vitro and in two separate In Vivo models. Our findings indicate that the probiotic yeast S boulardii can modulate angiogenesis in intestinal injury and repair, which provides a novel mechanism for its beneficial effects.