Lozenges with probiotic strains enhance oral immune response and health.

OBJECTIVE: Probiotics participate in regulating oral microbiota and reducing the prevalence of oral diseases; however, clinical research on probiotics is insufficient. Therefore, in this study, we performed in vitro screening of potential oral protective probiotic strains and then evaluated the clinical efficacy of the selected strains on maintaining oral health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty healthy individuals were recruited and randomly assigned into the placebo group and probiotics group, which included three strains of probiotics, Lactobacillus salivarius subs. salicinius AP-32, Lactobacillus paracasei ET-66, and Lactobacillus plantarum LPL28. Each group was blindly administered placebo or probiotics for four weeks. RESULTS: Next-generation sequencing results showed that the oral microbiota of Lactobacillus salivarius in the oral cavity were significantly increased in subjects supplemented with mixed probiotic lozenges. The anti-bacterial activities of viable probiotics were observed within two weeks. Both IgA levels and Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium abundances in the oral cavity were significantly increased in the experimental groups, along with a reduced formation of plaque. Most participants reported that their oral health conditions and intestinal symptoms had improved. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our clinical study suggests that oral probiotic lozenges may enhance oral immunity, modulate oral microbiota, and improve oral health.

Viable and Heat-Killed Probiotic Strains Improve Oral Immunity by Elevating the IgA Concentration in the Oral Mucosa.

Oral-nasal mucosal immunity plays a crucial role in protecting the body against bacterial and viral invasion. Safe probiotic products have been used to enhance human immunity and oral health. In this study, we verified the beneficial effects of mixed viable probiotic tablets, consisting of Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CP-9, and Lactobacillus paracasei ET-66, and heat-killed probiotic tablets, consisting of L. salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32 and L. paracasei ET-66, on oral immunity among 45 healthy participants. Participants were randomly divided into viable probiotic, heat-killed probiotic, and placebo groups. The administration of treatment lasted for 4 weeks. Saliva samples were collected at Weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6, and Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus mutans populations and IgA concentration were measured. IgA concentrations, levels of TGF-beta and IL-10 in PBMCs cells were quantified by ELISA method. Results showed that salivary IgA levels were significantly increased on administration of both the viable (119.30 ± 12.63%, ***P < 0.001) and heat-killed (116.78 ± 12.28%, ***P < 0.001) probiotics for 4 weeks. Among three probiotic strains, AP-32 would effectively increase the levels of TGF-beta and IL-10 in PBMCs. The oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans was significantly reduced on viable probiotic tablet administration (49.60 ± 31.01%, ***P < 0.001). The in vitro antibacterial test confirmed that viable probiotics effectively limited the survival rate of oral pathogens. Thus, this clinical pilot study demonstrated that oral probiotic tablets both in viable form or heat-killed form could exert beneficial effects on oral immunity via IL-10, TGB-beta mediated IgA secretion. The effective dosage of viable probiotic content in the oral tablet was 109 CFUs/g and the heat-killed oral tablet was 1 × 1010 cells/g.

Impact of the food grade heat-killed probiotic and postbiotic oral lozenges in oral hygiene.

The oral cavity plays a crucial role in food digestion and immune protection. Thus, maintaining oral health is necessary. Postbiotic and heat-killed probiotic cells have shown increased antibacterial potential with stable viability compared with live strains. However, clinical evidence regarding their effect on oral health is insufficient. Therefore, in this study, we tested postbiotic lozenges of Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32, L. paracasei ET-66, and L. plantarum LPL28 and heat-killed probiotic lozenges of L. salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32 and L. paracasei ET-66 for their effect on oral health. In total, 75 healthy individuals were blindly and randomly divided into placebo, postbiotic lozenge, and heat-killed probiotic lozenge groups and were administered the respective lozenge type for 4 weeks. Postbiotic and heat-killed probiotic lozenge groups demonstrated antibacterial activities with a considerable increase in L. salivarius in their oral cavity. Furthermore, their salivary immunoglobulin A, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium increased. Subjective questionnaires completed by the participants indicated that participants in both the experimental groups developed better oral health and intestinal conditions than those in the placebo group. Overall, our study revealed that a food additive in the form of an oral postbiotic or heat-killed probiotic lozenge may effectively enhance oral immunity, inhibit the growth of oral pathogens, and increase the numbers of beneficial oral microbiota.

Lactobacillus reuteri TSR332 and Lactobacillus fermentum TSF331 stabilize serum uric acid levels and prevent hyperuricemia in rats.

BACKGROUND: Uric acid (UA) is the end product of purine metabolism in the liver and is excreted by the kidneys. When purine metabolism is impaired, the serum UA level will be elevated (hyperuricemia) and eventually lead to gout. During evolution, humans and some primates have lost the gene encoding uricase, which is vital in UA metabolism. With the advances of human society, the prevalence of hyperuricemia has dramatically increased because of the refined food culture. Hyperuricemia can be controlled by drugs, such as allopurinol and probenecid. However, these drugs have no preventive effect and are associated with unpleasant side effects. An increasing number of probiotic strains, which are able to regulate host metabolism and prevent chronic diseases without harmful side effects, have been characterized. The identification of probiotic strains, which are able to exert beneficial effects on UA metabolism, will provide an alternative healthcare strategy for patients with hyperuricemia, especially for those who are allergic to anti-hyperuricemia drugs. METHODS: To elicit hyperuricemia, rats in the symptom control group (HP) were injected with potassium oxonate and fed a high-purine diet. Rats in the probiotic groups received the high-purine diet, oxonate injection, and supplements of probiotic strains TSR332, TSF331, or La322. Rats in the blank control group (C) received a standard diet (AIN-93G) and oxonate injection. RESULTS: Purine-utilizing strains of probiotics were screened using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in vitro, and the lowering effect on serum UA levels was analyzed in hyperuricemia rats in vivo. We found that Lactobacillus reuteri strain TSR332 and Lactobacillus fermentum strain TSF331 displayed significantly strong assimilation of inosine (90%; p = 0.00003 and 59%; p = 0.00545, respectively) and guanosine (78%; p = 0.00012 and 51%; p = 0.00062, respectively) within 30 min in vitro. Further animal studies revealed that serum UA levels were significantly reduced by 60% (p = 0.00169) and 30% (p = 0.00912), respectively, in hyperuricemic rats treated with TSR332 and TSF331 for 8 days. Remarkably, TSR332 ameliorated the occurrence of hyperuricemia, and no evident side effects were observed. Overall, our study indicates that TSR332 and TSF331 are potential functional probiotic strains for controlling the development of hyperuricemia.

alpha-Chaconine inhibits angiogenesis in vitro by reducing matrix metalloproteinase-2.

alpha-Chaconine, a naturally occurring steroidal glycoalkaloid in potato sprouts, was found to possess anti-carcinogenic properties, such as inhibiting proliferation, migration, invasion, and inducing apoptosis of tumor cells. However, the effect of alpha-chaconine on tumor angiogenesis remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the effect of alpha-chaconine on angiogenesis in vitro. Data demonstrated that alpha-chaconine inhibited proliferation of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) in a dose-dependent manner. When treated with non-toxic doses of alpha-chaconine, cell migration, invasion and tube formation were markedly suppressed. Furthermore, alpha-chaconine reduced the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), which is involved in angiogenesis. Our biochemical assays indicated that alpha-chaconine potently suppressed the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), phosphatidylinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) and Akt, while it did not affect phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulating kinase (ERK) and p38. In addition, alpha-chaconine significantly increased the cytoplasmic level of inhibitors of kappaBalpha (IkappaBalpha) and decreased the nuclear level of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), suggesting that alpha-chaconine could inhibit NF-kappaB activity. Furthermore, the treatment of inhibitors specific for JNK (SP600125), PI3K (LY294002) or NF-kappaB (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate) to BAECs reduced tube formation. Taken together, the results suggested that alpha-chaconine inhibited migration, invasion and tube formation of BAECs by reducing MMP-2 activities, as well as JNK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways and inhibition of NF-kappaB activity. These findings reveal a new therapeutic potential for alpha-chaconine on anti-angiogenic therapy.