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The novel insight into anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic effects of psychobiotics in diabetic rats: possible link between gut microbiota and brain regions

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European Journal of Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 06 September 2019

This article has been updated

Abstract

Purpose

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was associated with gut microbial impairment (dysbiosis) and neurological and behavioral disorders. The role of the gut–brain axis in the management of many diseases including T2DM has been the focus of much research activity in the recent years. However, a wide knowledge gap exists about the gut microbial effects on the function of glia cells. Hence, the present study was aimed to examine the effects of psychobatics on dysbiosis and glia cells function in enteric and central nervous system with an inflammatory insight in T2DM.

Methods

Thirty rats were treated by Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum, inulin, or their combination (synbiotic) for 8 weeks after inducing T2DM. Fecal sample was collected to evaluate gut microbial composition. Then, the rats were sacrificed, and the colon, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were studied.

Results

T2DM resulted in dysbiosis and increased levels of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and inflammatory markers (IL-17, IL-6, and TLR-2) in the colon and brain. However, concurrent supplementation of L. plantarum and inulin could improve the gut microbial composition as well as reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines. While the administration of L. plantarum led to a significant decrease in TLR-2 as well as GDNF and GFAP only in the amygdala, the synbiotic intake could make such changes in the colon, amygdala, and PFC.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrated an innovative approach to the beneficial effects of psychobiotics in neuroinflammation and behavioral performance through gut microbiota changes, focusing on possible role of glial cells in gut–brain axis.

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Change history

  • 06 September 2019

    The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in the order of the author list.

Abbreviations

GDNF:

Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor

GFAP:

Glial fibrillary acidic protein

IL:

Interleukin

HFD:

High-fat diet

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharides

EPM:

Elevated plus maze

TLRs:

Toll-like receptors

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Applied Research Center, Nutrition Research Center, and Laboratory Animal Center of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

Funding

This study was supported by Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz, Iran. The results of this paper were extracted from M.Sc. thesis of Elaheh Sadat Hosseinifard (Grant number: 5/D/32825), registered at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Elaheh-Sadat Hosseinifard and Mohammad Morshedi have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Elaheh-Sadat Hosseinifard, Mohammad Morshedi & Khadijeh Bavafa-Valenlia

  2. Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Mohammad Morshedi & Maryam Saghafi-Asl

  3. Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Elaheh-Sadat Hosseinifard, Mohammad Morshedi, Khadijeh Bavafa-Valenlia & Maryam Saghafi-Asl

  4. Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Maryam Saghafi-Asl

Authors
  1. Elaheh-Sadat Hosseinifard
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Contributions

MSA and ESH wrote the study design and protocol. MM and KBV helped with preparation of inulin and bacterial solutions and performing intervention phases. MM and ESH analyzed and interpreted the data and drew graphs. ESH and MM helped with keeping rats and intervening. ESH and MM performed behavioral tests and analyzed and interpreted the related data. ESH and MM and MSA were involved in drafting the manuscript or revising it critically for content. All authors have given the final approval of the version to be published.

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Correspondence to Maryam Saghafi-Asl.

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Hosseinifard, ES., Morshedi, M., Bavafa-Valenlia, K. et al. The novel insight into anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic effects of psychobiotics in diabetic rats: possible link between gut microbiota and brain regions. Eur J Nutr 58, 3361–3375 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-01924-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-01924-7

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