Poeta Marco, Cioffi Valentina, Tarallo Antonietta, Damiano Carla, Lo Vecchio Andrea, Bruzzese Eugenia, Parenti Giancarlo, Guarino Alfredo
Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.
Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy.
Antioxidants (Basel). 2023 Oct 19;12(10):1878. doi: 10.3390/antiox12101878.
The Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 acts as an enterotoxin able to induce chloride secretion and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), involved in diarrhea pathogenesis. (LGG) is recommended in pediatric acute gastroenteritis guidelines as a therapy independent of infectious etiology. We tested a postbiotic preparation of LGG (mLGG) in an in vitro model of COVID-associated diarrhea. Caco-2 cell monolayers mounted in Ussing chambers were exposed to Spike protein, and electrical parameters of secretory effect ( and TEER) were recorded in the Ussing chambers system. Oxidative stress was analyzed by measuring ROS production (DCFH-DA), GSH levels (DNTB), and lipid peroxidation (TBARS). Experiments were repeated after mLGG pretreatment of cells. The increase induced by Spike was consistent with the secretory diarrhea pattern, which was dependent on oxidative stress defined by a 2-fold increase in ROS production and lipid peroxidation and variation in glutathione levels. mLGG pretreatment significantly reduced the secretory effect ( = 0.002) and oxidative stress, namely ROS ( < 0.001), lipid peroxidation ( < 0.001), and glutathione level changes ( < 0.001). LGG counteracts Spike-induced diarrhea by inhibiting the enterotoxic effect and oxidative stress. The LGG efficacy in the form of a postbiotic depends on metabolites secreted in the medium with antioxidant properties similar to NAC. Because SARS-CoV-2 is an enteric pathogen, the efficacy of LGG independent of etiology in the treatment of acute gastroenteritis is confirmed by our data.
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