Darwish Ahmed M, Khattab Abd El-Nasser A, Almehizia Abdulrahman A, Alkahtani Hamad M, Ghabbour Hazem A, Kalmouch Atef
Cell Biology Department, Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki,, Giza, Egypt.
Genetics and Cytology Department, Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins. 2025 May 27. doi: 10.1007/s12602-025-10581-8.
Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal known to negatively impact multiple bodily systems. This study investigated the effectiveness of Lactobacillus acidophilus Pro4, a probiotic strain isolated from natural pickles, as an anti-cadmium toxicity supplement. Forty male albino mice were divided into five groups: the control group (C), the probiotic group (Pro4), the cadmium group (Cd), the protective group (Pr), and the therapy group (Th). The body weight, liver functions, and tissue pathology of liver and the expression of IGF1, GH, GH1, and GHR1 genes were assessed. Cadmium exposure significantly impacted the mice, reducing their daily weight gain and causing liver damage. This was evident by elevated levels of GOT and GPT enzymes in the serum, along with signs of degeneration in the liver tissue, and downregulation of the expression of IGF1, GH, GH1, and GHR1 genes compared to the control group. Mice in the Pro4 group displayed increased daily weight gain and the expression of IGF1, GH, GH1, and GHR1 genes compared to other groups. While GOT levels decreased significantly compared to the control group, GPT levels remained unchanged. Liver tissue appeared mostly normal, with a slightly dilated central vein and some inflammatory cells. In the Th group, the results were encouraging but not a complete reversal of damage. Levels of GOT and GPT enzymes improved compared to the cadmium-only group, and the liver tissue showed signs of repair. Therefore, the novel Lactobacillus acidophilus Pro4 offers a promising approach to mitigate the adverse effects of cadmium on growth in mice by improving weight gain and regulating biochemical markers.
镉（Cd）是一种剧毒重金属，已知会对多个身体系统产生负面影响。本研究调查了从天然泡菜中分离出的益生菌嗜酸乳杆菌Pro4作为抗镉毒性补充剂的有效性。将40只雄性白化小鼠分为五组：对照组（C）、益生菌组（Pro4）、镉组（Cd）、保护组（Pr）和治疗组（Th）。评估了小鼠的体重、肝功能、肝脏组织病理学以及IGF1、GH、GH1和GHR1基因的表达。镉暴露对小鼠产生了显著影响，降低了它们的每日体重增加并导致肝脏损伤。这在血清中GOT和GPT酶水平升高、肝脏组织出现退化迹象以及与对照组相比IGF1、GH、GH1和GHR1基因表达下调中明显体现。与其他组相比，Pro4组的小鼠每日体重增加以及IGF1、GH、GH1和GHR1基因的表达有所增加。虽然与对照组相比GOT水平显著降低，但GPT水平保持不变。肝脏组织大多看起来正常，中央静脉略有扩张且有一些炎症细胞。在Th组中，结果令人鼓舞，但并未完全逆转损伤。与仅镉组相比，GOT和GPT酶水平有所改善，肝脏组织显示出修复迹象。因此，新型嗜酸乳杆菌Pro4通过改善体重增加和调节生化指标，为减轻镉对小鼠生长的不利影响提供了一种有前景的方法。
