Severe alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has a high morbidity and mortality. Recent studies demonstrated that probiotics reversed alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis and inflammation, and improved liver enzymes in animal models and in patients. Our laboratory showed that administration of a probiotic strain, Lactobacillus rhamnosus Gorbach-Goldin (LGG), significantly improved liver enzymes and histology in alcohol treated mice. However, the beneficial mechanisms of action of LGG, either in viable bacteria form or in culture supernatant form, are not clear. Our overall hypothesis is that LGG increases intestinal cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP), intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) expression and intestinal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), leading to improved gut microbiota homeostasis, intestinal barrier integrity and hepatic fat metabolism, and these are likely the mechanisms by which LGG supplementation attenuates alcohol induced liver injury. We evaluate mechanisms of LGG action with 4 specific aims:
Aim 1 will determine the role of CRAMP in the alcohol-mediated changes in gut microbiota and the role of CRAMP in the beneficial effects of LGG in experimental ALD. We will use CRAMP knockout mouse model of ALD to determine the role of CRAMP and LGG in alcohol-induced changes in gut microbiota using a metagenomic approach.
Aim 2 will determine the role of LGG in promoting ITF expression and evaluate whether ITF positively modulates intestinal tight junctions as a mechanism for improved intestinal barrier integrity in experimental ALD. We will use an ITF-secreting goblet cell line to evaluate the role of LGG in the production of ITF and the role of ITF in the modulation of intestinal tight junctions in an epithelial cell line. We will also examine th strategy that oral administration of recombinant human ITF attenuates alcohol-induced intestinal barrier and liver injury.
Aim 3 will determine the role and mechanisms of butyric acid in the beneficial effects of LGG on intestinal tight junctions in experimental ALD. A metabolomics approach will be used to analyze the changes in SCFAs induced by alcohol and LGG intervention in the intestinal lumen. We will explore the potential mechanisms underlying the role of butyric acid in the regulation of occludin expression involving intestinal histone deacetylases (HDACs), miR122a, and HIF-?-mediated signaling in vitro and in vivo.
Aim 4 will evaluate and compare the effectiveness of LGG supernatant (LGGs) with viable LGG (vLGG) and heat-inactivated LGG (hiLGG) in the prevention/therapy of ALD in mouse models. These three LGG preparations will be tested for the effectiveness in the prevention/therapy of ALD in three experimental models of ALD of steatosis, steatohepatitis and fibrosis. This study will have a major impact on the development of probiotic-based new therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of ALD.

Public Health Relevance

The goals of this project are to investigate the mechanisms of probiotic action on alcohol-induced liver injury. This study will have a major impact on the development of a probiotics-based new therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of alcoholic liver disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AA023190-04
Application #
9543936
Study Section
Xenobiotic and Nutrient Disposition and Action Study Section (XNDA)
Program Officer
Wang, Joe
Project Start
2015-09-15
Project End
2020-08-31
Budget Start
2018-09-01
Budget End
2019-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Louisville
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
057588857
City
Louisville
State
KY
Country
United States
Zip Code
40292
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Liu, Liming; Zhao, Cuiqing; Yang, Ying et al. (2017) Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Deficiency Attenuates Experimental Colitis-Induced Adipose Tissue Lipolysis. Gastroenterol Res Pract 2017:3089378
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Cave, Matthew C; Clair, Heather B; Hardesty, Josiah E et al. (2016) Nuclear receptors and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Biochim Biophys Acta 1859:1083-1099
Liu, Yanlong; Zhao, Cuiqing; Xiao, Jian et al. (2016) Fibroblast growth factor 21 deficiency exacerbates chronic alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis and injury. Sci Rep 6:31026

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