Anti-Inflammatory Effect and Gut Health of Levilactobacillus brevis Strains in Macrophage and Intestinal Cells.

This study evaluated the potential of Levilactobacillus brevis strains (20080 and G1) to alleviate intestinal inflammation and support gut health. Chronic inflammatory conditions are often associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis, suggesting a potential role for probiotics in its management. The anti-inflammatory effects of L. brevis strains were assessed in cellular models of systemic and intestinal inflammation using RAW 264.7 macrophages and HT-29 epithelial cells. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, L. brevis strains suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) production while enhancing anti-inflammatory responses. Furthermore, the expression levels of prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4, which are key mediators of inflammatory diseases, particularly arthritis, were significantly reduced. Additionally, these strains effectively inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-κB, activator protein-1, and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, which are key regulators of inflammatory responses. In HT-29 cells, treatment with these strains led to a reduction in NO production upon sodium nitroprusside (SNP) stimulation. Under LPS stimulation, these strains suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhanced the expression of tight junction and mucin genes. In conclusion, L. brevis strains exhibited anti-inflammatory effects and gut-protective effects against intestinal inflammation, supporting their potential as therapeutic agents for inflammatory diseases.