The Lab4P Consortium of Probiotics Attenuates Atherosclerosis in LDL Receptor Deficient Mice Fed a High Fat Diet and Causes Plaque Stabilization by Inhibiting Inflammation and Several Pro-Atherogenic Processes.

Abstract

SCOPE:

Previous studies show that Lab4 probiotic consortium plus Lactobacillus plantarum CUL66 (Lab4P) reduces diet-induced weight gain and plasma cholesterol levels in C57BL/6J mice fed a high fat diet (HFD). The effect of Lab4P on atherosclerosis is not known and is therefore investigated.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Atherosclerosis-associated parameters are analyzed in LDL receptor deficient mice fed HFD for 12 weeks alone or supplemented with Lab4P. Lab4P increases plasma HDL and triglyceride levels and decreases LDL/VLDL levels. Lab4P also reduces plaque burden and content of lipids and macrophages, indicative of dampened inflammation, and increases smooth muscle cell content, a marker of plaque stabilization. Atherosclerosis arrays show that Lab4P alters the liver expression of 19 key disease-associated genes. Lab4P also decreases the frequency of macrophages and T-cells in the bone marrow. In vitro assays using conditioned media from probiotic bacteria demonstrates attenuation of several atherosclerosis-associated processes in vitro such as chemokine-driven monocytic migration, proliferation of monocytes and macrophages, foam cell formation and associated changes in expression of key genes, and proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells.

CONCLUSION:

This study provides new insights into the anti-atherogenic actions of Lab4P together with the underlying mechanisms and supports further assessments in human trials.

• Authors: Victoria L O'Morain, Yee-Hung Chan, Jessica O Williams, Reem Alotibi, Alaa Alahmadi, Neil P Rodrigues, Sue F Plummer, Timothy R Hughes, Daryn R Michael, Dipak P Ramji
• Journal: Molecular nutrition & food research (Mol Nutr Food Res) Vol. 65 Issue 17 Pg. e2100214 (09 2021) ISSN: 1613-4133 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 34216185 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Chemical References

• Culture Media, Conditioned
• Lipids
• Receptors, LDL
• Cholesterol

Topics

• Animals
• Atherosclerosis (genetics, pathology, therapy)
• Bone Marrow Cells
• Cholesterol (blood)
• Culture Media, Conditioned (pharmacology)
• Diet, High-Fat (adverse effects)
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Lactobacillus plantarum
• Lipids (blood)
• Liver (physiology)
• Male
• Mice, Mutant Strains
• Organ Size
• Plaque, Atherosclerotic (pathology, therapy)
• Probiotics (pharmacology)
• Receptors, LDL (genetics)
• Spleen (growth & development)