BACKGROUND

Intestinal mucositis is one of the most common and important side effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Currently, there are still no specific and effective protocols for its prevention and treatment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of oral administration of Lacticaseibacillus casei () on the progression of 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis. Methods: (1x10 CFU/ml) or saline was orally administered to Swiss mice, beginning 15 days before intestinal mucositis induction by single intraperitoneal 5-FU administration (450 mg/kg). Body weight, number of peripheral leukocytes and fecal lactic acid bacteria were monitored. After euthanasia, on day 18, tissue samples from colon and each small intestine segment were collected for histopathology. Jejunal tissues were collected and evaluated for iNOS and TNF-alpha immunoexpression, IL-1-beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels, malonaldehyde (MDA) accumulation, invertase activity and factor nuclear kappa B (NFkB-P65) gene expression, toll like receptor-4 (TLR-4), mucin-2 (MUC-2), occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1).

RESULTS

The positive impact of on 5-FU-induced leukopenia was observed, but not on 5-FU-induced weight loss in mice. reduced 5-FU-induced inflammation in the colon and small intestine (p<0.05). Decreased TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 (p<0.05) and MDA (p<0.05) levels, as well as decreased iNOS and TNF-alpha protein expressions (p<0.05) were found in the jejunum from group. In addition, down-regulated NFKB-P65 (p<0.05) and TLR-4 (p<0.05) gene expressions and up-regulated MUC-2 and mucosal barrier proteins occludin and ZO-1 gene expressions (p<0.05). Furthermore, greater lactic acid bacteria population (p<0.05) was found in the group when compared to control groups.

CONCLUSION

Oral administration can protect the intestine of Swiss mice from 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis, thus contributing to overall health.