Proneurogenic and neuroprotective effect of a multi strain probiotic mixture in a mouse model of acute inflammation: Involvement of the gut-brain axis

Neuroinflammation can severely affect brain homeostasis and adult hippocampal neurogenesis with detrimental effects on cognitive processes. Brain and gut are intimately connected via the “gut-brain axis”, a bidirectional communication system, and the administration of live bacteria (probiotics) has been shown to represent an intriguing approach for the prevention or even the cure of several diseases. In the present study we evaluated the putative neuroprotective effect of 15-days consumption of a multi-strain probiotic formulation based on food-associated strains and human gut bacteria at the dose of 109 CFU/mouse/day in a mouse model of acute inflammation, induced by an intraperitoneal single injection of LPS (0.1 mg/kg) at the end of probiotic administration. The results indicate that the prolonged administration of the multi-strain probiotic formulation not only prevents the LPS-dependent increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines in specific regions of the brain (hippocampus and cortex) and in the gastrointestinal district but also triggers a potent proneurogenic response capable of enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis. This effect is accompanied by a potentiation of intestinal barrier, as documented by the increased epithelial junction expression in the colon. Our hypothesis is that pre-treatment with the multi-strain probiotic formulation helps to create a systemic protection able to counteract or alleviate the effects of LPS-dependent acute pro-inflammatory responses.