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Gut microbiota

Lactobacillus acidophilus opens the door to butyrate

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 12, page 552 (2015)Cite this article

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The detrimental effect of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infection on butyrate uptake by colonocytes could be mitigated by the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus. Caco-2 colon cell lines had increased butyrate uptake and apical expression of the monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) after treatment with L. acidophilus and L. acidophilus-conditioned culture medium.

“Butyrate is a key short chain fatty acid produced in the colon. It serves as a primary fuel for colonocytes, maintains epithelial integrity, ameliorates mucosal inflammation, and stimulates electrolyte (NaCl) absorption,” explains corresponding author Alip Borthakur. “Therefore, impaired absorption of butyrate could result in intestinal inflammatory diseases. MCT1 plays a major role in colonic luminal butyrate absorption. Indeed, impaired butyrate absorption due to downregulation of MCT1 has been shown in experimental models of IBD and also in patients with ulcerative colitis.”

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References

  1. Kumar, A. et al. Lactobacillus acidophilus counteracts enteropathogenic E. coli-induced inhibition of butyrate uptake in intestinal epithelial cells. Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 10.1152/ajpgi.00186.2015

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  1. Gillian Patman
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Patman, G. Lactobacillus acidophilus opens the door to butyrate. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 12, 552 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2015.153

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