From probiotics to therapeutics: another step forward?
Fayez K. Ghishan, Pawel R. Kiela
Fayez K. Ghishan, Pawel R. Kiela
Published May 23, 2011
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2011;121(6):2149-2152. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI58025.
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Commentary

From probiotics to therapeutics: another step forward?

Abstract

Preclinical studies with probiotics continue to unravel mechanisms of cytoprotection and suggest that approaches utilizing microbial products as therapeutics in acute and chronic gastrointestinal disorders could be effective. However, clinical trials using these bacteria have thus far been inconsistent. In this issue of the JCI, Yan et al. describe a novel mechanism of cytoprotection by p40, a soluble product of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, mediated via EGFR. The efficacy of p40 in three models of chemically induced colitis indicates tremendous therapeutic potential, though this finding will need to be verified in human patients.

Authors

Fayez K. Ghishan, Pawel R. Kiela

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Figure 1

Schematic representation of the effects of p40 in colonic epithelial cells.

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Schematic representation of the effects of p40 in colonic epithelial cel...
(A) In the absence of p40, cytokine signaling inhibits the proapoptotic protein Bcl2, and contributes to the destabilization of tight junctions. (B) It remains unknown how p40 signals from the lumen, and which EGFR ligands are released from the colonic epithelial cell — and by what means — in response to p40. Although Akt activation was used as a reporter of EGFR activation, the role for this kinase in the effects of p40 remains to be elucidated; therefore, it is not depicted here.