Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens 1207 alleviates anxiety and depression-like behavior in CUMS mice

Abstract:

[Objective] Increasing studies have proved that probiotics can regulate the central nervous system through the microbiome-gut-brain axis and affect the occurrence and development of mental disorders. Therefore, the development of probiotics resources related to mental health is of great significance. We employed the mouse model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) to study the alleviating effects of Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens 1207 isolated from Tibet Kefir grains on the anxiety and depression behavior in mice. [Methods] The CUMS model was constructed and intragastrically administrated with L. kefiranofaciens 1207 (10⁹ CFU/d) for two weeks. The effects of the strain on the anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors of mice were evaluated by open field test, tail suspension test, and forced swimming test. The regulatory effects of the strain on tryptophan metabolism, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated based on the content of biomarkers in hypothalamus, serum, and spleen. [Results] Compared with the control, L. kefiranofaciens 1207 prolonged the retention time in the central region in the open field test (P<0.05), as well as the stationary time in the tail suspension test (P<0.01) and forced swimming test (P<0.05). Additionally, it improved the tryptophan metabolism of hypothalamus by reducing 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid/5-hydroxytryptamine in mice and regulated the balance of hypothalamus- pituitary-adrenal axis by lowering the serum level of corticosterone. By up-regulating the relative expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine (inflammatory cytokines-10, IL-10) in mouse spleen (P<0.05), L. kefiranofaciens 1207 inhibited the occurrence of inflammation. [Conclusion] Two weeks of oral administration of L. kefiranofaciens 1207 can effectively regulate the biomarkers related to the gut-brain axis and alleviate the anxiety and depression-like behavior of mice. Our study provides new probiotic intervention strategies for the prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders.