Microbiota Modulation With Synbiotic Decreases Liver Fibrosis in a High Fat Choline Deficient Diet Mice Model of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

Helena Cortez-Pinto, Paula Borralho, Jorge Machado, Maria T. Lopes, Inês V. Gato, António M. Santos, António S. Guerreiro

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)
34 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Gut microbiota may play a role in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Previous studies showed that prebiotics and probiotics might halt the progression of steatohepatitis. Aim: To clarify the potential effect of Synbiotic 2000®Forte (Synb) in preventing or ameliorating diet induced steatohepatitis, particularly in fibrosis progression and how this intervention correlates with gut microbiota composition and endotoxinemia. Methods: Twenty-seven C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups: chow diet (CD, n = 7); high-fat choline deficient diet (HFCD, n = 10) and HFCD diet supplemented with Synbiotic 2000®Forte (four probiotic strains and four prebiotics mixture) (HFCD + Synb, n = 10). At 6 and 18 weeks, blood samples (lipopolysaccharides assay - LPS), cecal feaces (gut microbiota) and liver tissue (histology) were collected for analysis. Results: Both HCFD diet mice developed steatohepatitis with ballooning at 6 and 18 weeks, opposite to CD. Comparison of histological scores in HFCD and HFCD + Synb, at 6 and 18 weeks showed no significant difference regarding steatosis, inflammation, or ballooning. Evaluating fibrosis with Sirius Red, and degree of smooth-muscle cell activation, HFCD mice had significantly more fibrosis; addition of Synb significantly reduced fibrosis at 6 weeks and 18 weeks. Serum endotoxin levels were similarly increased in HFCD and HFCD + Synb at week 6; however at week 18 HFCD + Synb had significantly lower endotoxin levels than HFCD. Gut microbiota of HFCD vs CD, showed no significant differences regarding the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, either at 6 or 18 weeks; Proteobacteria increased at 6 week (3.3) and 18 week (7.5), while the addition of Synb resulted in a decrease at week 18 (-3.90). Fusobacteria markedly increase at week 18 (10.0), but less so with the addition of Synb (5.2). Conclusion: Synbiotic 2000®Forte is able to modulate the mouse gut microbiota reducing the degree of fibrosis while simultaneously decreasing endotoxemia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)132-141
Number of pages10
JournalGE Portuguese Journal of Gastroenterology
Volume23
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2016

Keywords

  • Mice
  • Microbiota
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Prebiotics
  • Probiotics

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