Journal Article

Probiotics protect mice from ovariectomy-induced cortical bone loss

Sjögren, Klara, Islander, Ulrika, Andersson, Annica, Movérare-Skrtic, Sofia, Ohlsson, Claes, Engdahl, Cecilia, Windahl, Sara H, Farman, Helen H, Fåk, Frida

2014

Overview

The gut microbiota (GM) modulates the hosts metabolism and immune system. Probiotic bacteria are defined as live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host and can alter the composition of the GM. Germ-free mice have increased bone mass associated with reduced bone resorption indicating that the GM also regulates bone mass. Ovariectomy (ovx) results in bone loss associated with altered immune status. The purpose of this study was to determine if probiotic treatment protects mice from ovx-induced bone loss. Mice were treated with either a single Lactobacillus (L) strain, L. paracasei DSM13434 (L. para) or a mixture of three strains, L. paracasei DSM13434, L. plantarum DSM 15312 and DSM 15313 (L. mix) given in the drinking water during 6 weeks, starting two weeks before ovx. Both the L. para and the L. mix treatment protected mice from ovx-induced cortical bone loss and bone resorption. Cortical bone mineral content was higher in both L. para and L. mix treated ovx mice compared to vehicle (veh) treated ovx mice. Serum levels of the resorption marker C-terminal telopeptides and the urinary fractional excretion of calcium were increased by ovx in the veh treated but not in the L. para or the L. mix treated mice. Probiotic treatment reduced the expression of the two inflammatory cytokines, TNFα and IL-1β, and increased the expression of OPG, a potent inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis, in cortical bone of ovx mice. In addition, ovx decreased the frequency of regulatory T cells in bone marrow of veh treated but not probiotic treated mice. In conclusion, treatment with L. para or the L. mix prevents ovx-induced cortical bone loss. Our findings indicate that these probiotic treatments alter the immune status in bone resulting in attenuated bone resorption in ovx mice.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Animals / Antibiotics / Arthritis / Bacteria / Biocompatibility / Biology and Life Sciences / Biomarkers - blood / Biomedical materials / Body Weight - drug effects / Bone and Bones - drug effects / Bone and Bones - metabolism / Bone and Bones - pathology / Bone composition / Bone density / Bone loss / Bone marrow / Bone Marrow - drug effects / Bone Marrow - metabolism / Bone Marrow - pathology / Bone mass / Bone mineral content / Bone resorption / Bone Resorption - blood / Bone Resorption - drug therapy / Bone Resorption - etiology / Bone Resorption - prevention & control / Bones / Calcium / Calcium (urinary) / Cortical bone / Cytokines / Cytokines - metabolism / Density / Drinking water / Endocrinology and Diabetes / Endokrinologi och diabetes / Excretion / Female / Food / Gene expression / Genomes / Germfree / Health Sciences / Hälsovetenskap / IL-1β / Immune status / Immune system / Immunoregulation / Inflammation / Inflammation Mediators - metabolism / Intestinal microflora / Lactobacillus - drug effects / Lactobacillus - metabolism / Ligands / Lymphocytes / Lymphocytes T / Medical and Health Sciences / Medicin och hälsovetenskap / Medicine / Medicine and Health Sciences / Metabolism / Mice / Mice, Inbred C57BL / Microbiota / Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms) / Microorganisms / Minerals - metabolism / Nutrition / Nutrition and Dietetics / Näringslära / Oophorectomy / Organ Size - drug effects / Osteoclastogenesis / Osteoporosis / Osteoprotegerin / Osteoprotegerin - metabolism / Ovariectomy / Ovariectomy - adverse effects / Physiological aspects / Probiotics / Probiotics - pharmacology / Probiotics - therapeutic use / RANK Ligand - metabolism / Rheumatology / Serum levels / T cells / T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - drug effects / T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - metabolism / Transforming Growth Factor beta - metabolism / Tumor necrosis factor-TNF / Tumor necrosis factor-α / Womens health