Un probiotique pour contrer les effets histologiques du lipopolysaccharide : étude expérimentale chez la souris

Abstract

Inflammation is a protective immune response against harmful stimuli. However, when it becomes chronic, it contributes to the development of various disorders, including neurodegenerative, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, is a potent inducer of inflammation through activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, leading to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and impairment of the intestinal barrier. In this context, probiotics of the Lactobacillus genus have emerged as promising therapeutic candidates due to their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The present study aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of Lactobacillus sp. on LPS-induced histopathological lesions in Balb/c mice. Eighteen female mice were randomly divided into three groups: a control group receiving saline solution (0.9% NaCl), an LPS-treated group receiving LPS (2.5 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection, and a group pretreated with Lactobacillus sp. before LPS administration. Histological analysis of the jejunum, ileum, colon, and liver was performed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The results showed that LPS induced marked histological alterations, including villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the intestine, as well as cellular degeneration and congestion of the centrilobular veins in the liver. Pretreatment with Lactobacillus sp. significantly attenuated these lesions, as evidenced by increased jejunal villus height, reduced goblet cell number (p < 0.01), and preservation of liver architecture with minimal inflammatory infiltration and no fibrosis. In conclusion, Lactobacillus sp. exerts a preventive protective effect against LPS-induced histological damage in both the intestine and the liver.