Abstract
The effects of probiotic bacteria Enterococcus faecium (EF) and selenium were studied on methotrexate (MTX) treatment in rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA). Arthritic rats were preventive treated orally with the following substances: lyophilized EF (15 mg/kg/day, 5 days a week); sodium selenite pentahydrate (SSe, 0.050 mg/kg containing 0.015 mg/kg selenium, 5 days a week); MTX (0.6 mg/kg/week), and their combinations for the period of 50 days from adjuvant application. Levels of serum albumin, serum nitrite/nitrate concentrations, hind paw swelling, arthrogram scores, whole body bone mineral density (BMD), and bone erosions were evaluated as markers of inflammation and destructive changes associated with arthritis. Long-term preventive treatment with low-dose MTX significantly inhibited the markers of both inflammation and arthritis. EF or SSe when administered singly or in combination had no significant effect on given parameters in arthritic rats. EF but not SSe potentiated the beneficial effects of MTX, which resulted in a more significant reduction of hind paw swelling, arthrogram scores and whole body BMD decrease. EF had a tendency to improve also the effect of MTX on serum albumin and nitrite/nitrate concentrations. Our results indicate that EF may increase the preventive effect of MTX treatment in rat AA by improving its anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects.
Highlights
Increasing interest in an influence of intestinal microflora on human and animal health has resulted in attempts to improve optimally its composition by using probiotics
The reduction of hind paw volume was more pronounced in rats treated with the combination of MTX þ Enterococcus faecium (EF) than with MTX alone ðp, 0:05Þ: Selenium alone had no effect on MTX treatment
The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of the probiotic agent EF and selenium on MTX treatment of adjuvant arthritis (AA) in rats
Summary
Increasing interest in an influence of intestinal microflora on human and animal health has resulted in attempts to improve optimally its composition by using probiotics. Probiotics are defined as live cultures of microorganisms that, if administered in sufficient quantities, beneficially affect the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance (Reid et al, 2003). They influence favourably both development and stability of the microflora, inhibit colonization by pathogens, influence the mucosal barrier by their trophic effect on intestinal epithelium and stimulate both specific and non-specific components of the immune system (Isolauri et al, 2001; TlaskalovaHogenovaet al., 2004). Enterococcus faecium (EF), like many other lactic-acid bacteria in functional foods, can transiently colonize the human intestine and exert beneficial probiotic effect (Belicovaet al., 1999). The combination of EF with organic selenium may enhance the immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory actions of this probiotic agent
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