Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LPPerfectus001 Alleviating Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota and NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder, often accompanied by low-grade inflammation, visceral hypersensitivity and gut microbiota dysbiosis. In this study, the therapeutic potential of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LPPerfectus001 (L. plantarum 001) was investigated to alleviate IBS symptoms. Using an Lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage model, L. plantarum 001 demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting Nitric Oxide production and downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, in a mouse model of IBS induced by Citrobacter rodentium infection and water avoidance stress, L. plantarum 001 intervention reduced fecal moisture, improved intestinal barrier integrity via up-regulating of ZO-1 and MUC2, and attenuated visceral hypersensitivity. Transcriptomic analysis combining with RT-qPCR revealed that L. plantarum 001 modulated the NF-κB signaling pathway and Th1/Th2 cell differentiation, reducing expression of key inflammatory genes. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing showed that L. plantarum 001 restored gut microbiota diversity, enriched beneficial butyrate-producing Odoribacter, and suppressed pro-inflammatory Pseudomonadota. These findings suggested that L. plantarum 001 alleviates IBS through multi-targeted mechanisms involving barrier repair, microbiota modulation, and anti-inflammatory signaling, highlighting its potential as a probiotic therapy for IBS.