Neuroprotective and antioxidant potential of probiotics in countering nickel-induced oxidative stress in the brain.

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress can cause cellular damage and the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Heavy metals including nickel could trigger oxidative stress, impacting brain health. Probiotics show antioxidant potential in mitigating oxidative stress, offering a promising avenue for brain protection against oxidative stress. The aim of current study is to investigate the precise effects of native potential probiotics on nickel-induced oxidative stress in the brain.

METHODS

Three strains of Lactobacillus (Lactobacillus brevis 205, Lactobacillus mucosae 226, and Lactobacillus casei 375), along with a Bifidobacterium strain (Bifidobacterium infantis 1001), were chosen for a probiotic cocktail. Nickel chloride was utilized to induce oxidative stress in the brains of mice, following which thirty male NMRI mice were included in an animal study involving probiotic and nickel treatments. A relative Real-time PCR assay was conducted to analyze the gene expression related to the antioxidant system in the brain.

RESULTS

The current research indicates that nickel as a heavy metal caused a decrease in the expression of antioxidant genes such as KEAP, CAT, SOD, GPX, and HO-1. In contrast, the administration of our native probiotic strains led to an elevation in gene expression levels when compared to mice administered the nickel.

CONCLUSION

The current study could uncover discoveries about the negative impacts of nickel on the brain and the positive effects of our probiotic strains. This study can accurately show the connection between the gut and the brain. It seems that probiotics could be assumed as beneficial safe agents in addressing abnormal conditions, such as exposure to heavy metals.