Amelioration of Metabolic Syndrome by Co-Administration of <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> CRL1231 and Wheat Bran in Mice via Gut Microbiota and Metabolites Modulation
Background/Objectives: <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> CRL1231 (<i>Lj</i> CRL1231) is a strain with feruloyl esterase (FE) activity that enhances ferulic acid (FA) release from wheat bran (WB) and has potential as a probiotic for metabolic syndrome (MS). Given the potential he...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Metabolites |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/7/466 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1839615606317383680 |
|---|---|
| author | Matias Russo Antonela Marquez Estefanía Andrada Sebastián Torres Arlette Santacruz Roxana Medina Paola Gauffin-Cano |
| author_facet | Matias Russo Antonela Marquez Estefanía Andrada Sebastián Torres Arlette Santacruz Roxana Medina Paola Gauffin-Cano |
| author_sort | Matias Russo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Objectives: <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> CRL1231 (<i>Lj</i> CRL1231) is a strain with feruloyl esterase (FE) activity that enhances ferulic acid (FA) release from wheat bran (WB) and has potential as a probiotic for metabolic syndrome (MS). Given the potential health benefits of FA and its microbial metabolites, this study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of <i>Lj</i> CRL1231 co-administered with WB in a mouse model of metabolic syndrome (MS) induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: Mice were divided into three groups and fed for 14 weeks as follows: the Control group (standard diet), the MS group (HFD+WB), and the MS+Lj group (HFD+WB and <i>Lj</i> CRL1231-dose 10<sup>8</sup> cells/day). Specifically, we analyzed the changes in the intestinal microbiota (IM), colonic FE activity, generation of FA-derived and fermentation metabolites, and metabolic and inflammatory parameters. Results: Improvements in the MS+Lj group compared to the MS group included the following: a—a 38% increase in colonic FE activity, leading to elevated levels of FA-derived metabolites (e.g., dihydroferulic, dihydroxyphenylpropionic, and hydroxyphenylpropionic acids); b—a significant shift in the IM composition, with a 3.4-fold decrease in Firmicutes and a 2.9-fold increase in Bacteroidetes; c—a decrease in harmful bacteria (<i>Desulfovibrio</i>) by 93%, and beneficial bacteria like <i>Bifidobacterium</i> increased significantly (6.58 log cells/g); d—a 33% increase in total SCFAs; e—a 26% reduction in the adiposity index; f—a 12% increase in HDL cholesterol and a 19% reduction in triglycerides; g—normalized glucose and insulin resulting in a 2-fold lower HOMA-IR index; h—an improved inflammatory profile by decreasing TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6 (3-, 5-, and 2-fold, respectively) and increasing IL-10 by 2-fold; i—alleviation of liver damage by normalizing of transaminases AST (19.70 ± 2.97 U/L) and ALT (13.12 ± 0.88 U/L); j—evidence of reduced oxidative damage. Conclusions: The co-administration of <i>L. johnsonii</i> CRL1231 and WB exerts a synergistic effect in mitigating the features of MS in HFD-fed mice. This effect is mediated by modulation of the gut microbiota, increased release of bioactive FA-derived compounds, and restoration of metabolic and inflammatory homeostasis. This strategy represents a promising dietary approach for MS management through targeted microbiota–metabolite interactions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bc6b7db8dceb49b4943a7a233a8b2283 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2218-1989 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metabolites |
| spelling | doaj-art-bc6b7db8dceb49b4943a7a233a8b22832025-07-25T13:29:55ZengMDPI AGMetabolites2218-19892025-07-0115746610.3390/metabo15070466Amelioration of Metabolic Syndrome by Co-Administration of <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> CRL1231 and Wheat Bran in Mice via Gut Microbiota and Metabolites ModulationMatias Russo0Antonela Marquez1Estefanía Andrada2Sebastián Torres3Arlette Santacruz4Roxana Medina5Paola Gauffin-Cano6Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos (CERELA-FML-FECIC-CONICET), San Miguel de Tucumán T4000ILC, Tucumán, ArgentinaCentro de Referencia para Lactobacilos (CERELA-FML-FECIC-CONICET), San Miguel de Tucumán T4000ILC, Tucumán, ArgentinaCentro de Referencia para Lactobacilos (CERELA-FML-FECIC-CONICET), San Miguel de Tucumán T4000ILC, Tucumán, ArgentinaInstituto de Bioprospección y Fisiología Vegetal (INBIOFIV-CONICET-UNT), San Miguel de Tucumán T4000ILC, Tucumán, ArgentinaSchool of Engineering and Science, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, Monterrey C.P. 64849, Nuevo León, MexicoCentro de Referencia para Lactobacilos (CERELA-FML-FECIC-CONICET), San Miguel de Tucumán T4000ILC, Tucumán, ArgentinaCentro de Referencia para Lactobacilos (CERELA-FML-FECIC-CONICET), San Miguel de Tucumán T4000ILC, Tucumán, ArgentinaBackground/Objectives: <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> CRL1231 (<i>Lj</i> CRL1231) is a strain with feruloyl esterase (FE) activity that enhances ferulic acid (FA) release from wheat bran (WB) and has potential as a probiotic for metabolic syndrome (MS). Given the potential health benefits of FA and its microbial metabolites, this study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of <i>Lj</i> CRL1231 co-administered with WB in a mouse model of metabolic syndrome (MS) induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: Mice were divided into three groups and fed for 14 weeks as follows: the Control group (standard diet), the MS group (HFD+WB), and the MS+Lj group (HFD+WB and <i>Lj</i> CRL1231-dose 10<sup>8</sup> cells/day). Specifically, we analyzed the changes in the intestinal microbiota (IM), colonic FE activity, generation of FA-derived and fermentation metabolites, and metabolic and inflammatory parameters. Results: Improvements in the MS+Lj group compared to the MS group included the following: a—a 38% increase in colonic FE activity, leading to elevated levels of FA-derived metabolites (e.g., dihydroferulic, dihydroxyphenylpropionic, and hydroxyphenylpropionic acids); b—a significant shift in the IM composition, with a 3.4-fold decrease in Firmicutes and a 2.9-fold increase in Bacteroidetes; c—a decrease in harmful bacteria (<i>Desulfovibrio</i>) by 93%, and beneficial bacteria like <i>Bifidobacterium</i> increased significantly (6.58 log cells/g); d—a 33% increase in total SCFAs; e—a 26% reduction in the adiposity index; f—a 12% increase in HDL cholesterol and a 19% reduction in triglycerides; g—normalized glucose and insulin resulting in a 2-fold lower HOMA-IR index; h—an improved inflammatory profile by decreasing TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6 (3-, 5-, and 2-fold, respectively) and increasing IL-10 by 2-fold; i—alleviation of liver damage by normalizing of transaminases AST (19.70 ± 2.97 U/L) and ALT (13.12 ± 0.88 U/L); j—evidence of reduced oxidative damage. Conclusions: The co-administration of <i>L. johnsonii</i> CRL1231 and WB exerts a synergistic effect in mitigating the features of MS in HFD-fed mice. This effect is mediated by modulation of the gut microbiota, increased release of bioactive FA-derived compounds, and restoration of metabolic and inflammatory homeostasis. This strategy represents a promising dietary approach for MS management through targeted microbiota–metabolite interactions.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/7/466metabolic syndromeintestinal microbiotaprobiotic<i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i>high fat dietferuloyl esterase |
| spellingShingle | Matias Russo Antonela Marquez Estefanía Andrada Sebastián Torres Arlette Santacruz Roxana Medina Paola Gauffin-Cano Amelioration of Metabolic Syndrome by Co-Administration of <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> CRL1231 and Wheat Bran in Mice via Gut Microbiota and Metabolites Modulation Metabolites metabolic syndrome intestinal microbiota probiotic <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> high fat diet feruloyl esterase |
| title | Amelioration of Metabolic Syndrome by Co-Administration of <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> CRL1231 and Wheat Bran in Mice via Gut Microbiota and Metabolites Modulation |
| title_full | Amelioration of Metabolic Syndrome by Co-Administration of <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> CRL1231 and Wheat Bran in Mice via Gut Microbiota and Metabolites Modulation |
| title_fullStr | Amelioration of Metabolic Syndrome by Co-Administration of <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> CRL1231 and Wheat Bran in Mice via Gut Microbiota and Metabolites Modulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Amelioration of Metabolic Syndrome by Co-Administration of <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> CRL1231 and Wheat Bran in Mice via Gut Microbiota and Metabolites Modulation |
| title_short | Amelioration of Metabolic Syndrome by Co-Administration of <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> CRL1231 and Wheat Bran in Mice via Gut Microbiota and Metabolites Modulation |
| title_sort | amelioration of metabolic syndrome by co administration of i lactobacillus johnsonii i crl1231 and wheat bran in mice via gut microbiota and metabolites modulation |
| topic | metabolic syndrome intestinal microbiota probiotic <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> high fat diet feruloyl esterase |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/7/466 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT matiasrusso ameliorationofmetabolicsyndromebycoadministrationofilactobacillusjohnsoniiicrl1231andwheatbraninmiceviagutmicrobiotaandmetabolitesmodulation AT antonelamarquez ameliorationofmetabolicsyndromebycoadministrationofilactobacillusjohnsoniiicrl1231andwheatbraninmiceviagutmicrobiotaandmetabolitesmodulation AT estefaniaandrada ameliorationofmetabolicsyndromebycoadministrationofilactobacillusjohnsoniiicrl1231andwheatbraninmiceviagutmicrobiotaandmetabolitesmodulation AT sebastiantorres ameliorationofmetabolicsyndromebycoadministrationofilactobacillusjohnsoniiicrl1231andwheatbraninmiceviagutmicrobiotaandmetabolitesmodulation AT arlettesantacruz ameliorationofmetabolicsyndromebycoadministrationofilactobacillusjohnsoniiicrl1231andwheatbraninmiceviagutmicrobiotaandmetabolitesmodulation AT roxanamedina ameliorationofmetabolicsyndromebycoadministrationofilactobacillusjohnsoniiicrl1231andwheatbraninmiceviagutmicrobiotaandmetabolitesmodulation AT paolagauffincano ameliorationofmetabolicsyndromebycoadministrationofilactobacillusjohnsoniiicrl1231andwheatbraninmiceviagutmicrobiotaandmetabolitesmodulation |