P. pentosaceus Administration Attenuates the Severity of Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis and Improve the Intestinal Permeability

Aims: To evaluate the effect of different doses of P. pentosaceus on colitis symptoms as well as in the intestinal barrier function in an in vivo model of acute ulcerative colitis induced with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS).

Study Design: Experimental.

Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Immunomodulators, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, Mexico, between march 2015 and December 2015.

Methodology: Acute colitis was induced in BALB/c mice via the administration of 3.5% DSS in drinking water administered ad libitum for 7 days. On day 2 during the induction of colitis, four groups received different doses of Pediococcus pentosaceus (1×107, 1×108, 1×109, and 1×1010 Colony Forming Units (CFUs)) via gastric tube once per day. We assessed the severity of colitis based on disease activity index (DAI), colon length and histological damage; colonic permeability to fluorescein isothiocyanate–dextran (FITC-dextran) was measured in vivo.

Results: Treatment with P. pentosaceus at doses of 1x1010 significantly reduced the DAI compared with the DSS group (1.94± 0.93 vs. 3.54± 0.61) and decreased the diarrhea score and fecal blood score (1.53 ± 0.35 vs. 3.73). P. pentosaceus improved colon length (8.81 ± 0.95 cm vs. 7.26 ± 0.67 cm) and decreased intestinal permeability by 49.6% compared to the DSS group.

Conclusion: The administration of P. pentosaceus at a dosage of 1x1010 CFUs attenuates the severity of DSS-induced colitis and improves epithelial barrier function.