Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
Probiotic modulation of the neonatal gut-lung axis in the regulation of early respiratory function
By Geng L, Wu K, He J and 1 others.
Abstract
Introduction
The gut -lung axis represents bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems that contributes to immune regulation and inflammatory homeostasis. This study evaluated the effects of probiotic-conditioned media (PCM) and live probiotics on epithelial barrier function, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function using Caco-2 intestinal epithelial and A549 pulmonary epithelial cell models under inflammatory conditions.
Methods
Cells were treated with 20% PCM or live probiotics at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 50:1 and exposed to LPS (1 μg/mL) or TNF-α (10 ng/mL). Barrier integrity was evaluated using transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and FITC-dextran permeability assays. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), inflammatory and tight junction gene expression, and SCFA concentrations were assessed using DCFH-DA staining, JC-1 staining, qPCR, and GC-MS, respectively. All experiments comprised three independent biological replicates (n=3), with data presented as mean ± SD and analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc multiple-comparison test.