The potency of native postbiotics and paraprobiotics in modulating inflammation by affecting the gut-kidney axis.

BACKGROUND

The gut's impact on kidney health can be observed through its influence on the gut-kidney axis. However, using paraprobiotic and postbiotic agents may improve gut health and kidney function by affecting signaling pathways. This study aims to assess the anti-inflammatory and autophagy-inducing properties of native postbiotics and paraprobiotics to enhance kidney health by targeting the gut-kidney axis.

METHODS

In this animal experiment, colitis was induced in male C57Bl/6 mice using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), and mice were treated with postbiotics and paraprobiotics consisting of four Lactobacillus and two Bifidobacterium strains. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was conducted to evaluate the gene expression involved in the autophagy process in the kidney.

RESULTS

A significant decrease in weight and colon length and an increase in disease activity index and pathological changes were observed in the DSS group. However, the paraprobiotic and postbiotic mixtures, with more emphasis on postbiotics, were effective in preventing these changes caused by DSS. Exposure to DSS resulted in the downregulation of autophagy-related genes, but this difference was not statistically significant. Both the paraprobiotics and postbiotics increased the expression of genes. The postbiotic mixture had a more pronounced effect in increasing the expression of atg7, atg12, and beclin.

CONCLUSIONS

Our native postbiotics and paraprobiotics indicated an effective role in reducing inflammation, especially gut and kidney inflammation, through the gut-kidney axis. The administration of these beneficial agents with the least side effects could be considered a suitable complementary treatment for controlling symptoms in patients with inflammatory-related disease.