Effects of Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4 in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced mucositis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Mucositis is a debilitating intestinal side effect of chemotherapeutic regimens. Probiotics have been considered a possible preventative treatment for mucositis. Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4 (TH-4), a newly identified probiotic, has been shown to partially alleviate mucositis induced by administration of the antimetabolite chemotherapy drug, methotrexate in rats; likely mediated through a mechanism of folate production. However, its effects against other classes of chemotherapy drug have yet to be determined.

AIMS:

The authors investigated the effects of TH-4 in a rat model of mucositis induced by the anthracycline chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin.

METHODS:

Gastrointestinal damage was induced in female Dark Agouti rats (148.3 ± 1.5 g) by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin (20 mg/kg). Animals recieved a daily oral gavage of TH-4 at 10(9) cfu/ml or skim milk (vehicle) from days 0 to 8. At day 6, rats were injected with either saline or doxorubicin. At kill, small intestinal tissues were collected for determination of sucrase and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and histological assessment.

RESULTS:

Body weight was significantly decreased by doxorubicin compared with normal controls (p < 0.05). Histological parameters, such as crypt depth and villus height, were also significantly decreased by doxorubicin. TH-4 partially prevented the loss of body weight induced by doxorubicin (2.3% compared with 4%), but provided no further therapeutic benefit.

CONCLUSIONS:

The minimal amelioration of doxorubicin-induced mucositis by TH-4 further supports folate production as a likely mechanism of TH-4 action against methotrexate-induced mucositis. Further studies into TH-4 are required to confirm its applicability to other conventional chemotherapy regimens.

• Authors: Hanru Wang, Caitlin L Brook, Alexandra L Whittaker, Andrew Lawrence, Roger Yazbeck, Gordon S Howarth
• Journal: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology (Scand J Gastroenterol) Vol. 48 Issue 8 Pg. 959-68 (Aug 2013) ISSN: 1502-7708 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23865592 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
• Biomarkers
• Doxorubicin
• Peroxidase

Topics

• Animals
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Doxorubicin (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Female
• Ileum (metabolism, pathology)
• Injections, Intraperitoneal
• Jejunum (metabolism, pathology)
• Mucositis (chemically induced, metabolism, pathology, therapy)
• Peroxidase (metabolism)
• Probiotics (therapeutic use)
• Random Allocation
• Rats
• Streptococcus thermophilus
• Treatment Outcome
• Weight Loss