Protective effect of the riboflavin-overproducing strain Lactobacillus plantarum CRL2130 on intestinal mucositis in mice

Abstract

Objective: Intestinal mucositis (IM), a side effect commonly associated to cancer treatments, is a local inflammatory response that causes alterations of the intestinal structure that in turn affects nutrient absorption. Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum CRL 2130 is a riboflavin-overproducing strain that has previously been shown to provide anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of this riboflavin producing strain in a chemically induced murine mucositis model. Research Methods & Procedures: Mucositis was induced by daily injections of 5-fluororacil (5-FU) after which mice were either given L. plantarum CRL 2130, L. plantarum CRL 725 (the strain from which CRL 2130 was derived that does not overproduce riboflavin), or commercial riboflavin twice daily during the 6 days of chemotherapy agent injections. The effect of the strains and riboflavin was also evaluated in vitro using Caco-2 intestinal cancer cell cultures to determine if they interfere with 5-FU´s anti-cancer activity. Results: Administration of L. plantarum CRL 2130 significantly attenuated the pathological changes induced by 5-FU in mice such as body weight loss, diarrhea, the shortening of villus height, increases in proinflammatory cytokine concentrations, and induced an elevated production of IL-10. In vitro assays using Caco-2 cells showed that the effectiveness of 5-FU was not affected by L. plantarum CRL 2130 and that this strain exerted an inhibitory mechanism against oxidative stress. Conclusion: These results indicate that the riboflavin-overproducing strain L. plantarum CRL 2130 could be useful to prevent mucositis during cancer treatments and would not affect the primary treatment.