Lactobacillus johnsonii HY7042 ameliorates Gardnerella vaginalis-induced vaginosis by killing Gardnerella vaginalis and inhibiting NF-κB activation

• Published in: International immunopharmacology Vol. 11; no. 11; pp. 1758 - 1765
• Main Authors: Joo, Hyun-Min, Hyun, Yang-Jin, Myoung, Kil-Sun, Ahn, Young-Tae, Lee, Jung-Hee, Huh, Chul-Sung, Han, Myung Joo, Kim, Dong-Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2011
• Subjects: Animals; Antibiosis; Antimicrobial effect; Bacterial Adhesion; Cytokines - blood; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Gardnerella vaginalis; Gardnerella vaginalis - growth & development; HeLa Cells; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide - metabolism; Lactic acid bacteria; Lactobacillus - growth & development; Lactobacillus - metabolism; Lactobacillus johnsonii HY7042; Macrophages, Peritoneal - drug effects; Macrophages, Peritoneal - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Microscopy, Confocal; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Peroxidase - metabolism; Transcription Factor RelA - antagonists & inhibitors; Transcription Factor RelA - immunology; Vagina - immunology; Vagina - microbiology; Vagina - pathology; Vaginosis; Vaginosis, Bacterial - immunology; Vaginosis, Bacterial - microbiology; Vaginosis, Bacterial - pathology; Vaginosis, Bacterial - prevention & control; Gardnerella vaginalis; Lactic acid bacteria; Antimicrobial effect; Lactobacillus johnsonii HY7042; Vaginosis
• ISSN: 1567-5769; 1878-1705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2011.07.002

Hydrogen peroxide-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from women's vaginas and their anti-inflammatory effects against Gardnerella vaginalis-induced vaginosis were examined in β-estradiol-immunosuppressed mice. Oral and intravaginal treatment with five LABs significantly decreased viable G. vaginalis numbers in vaginal cavities and myeloperoxidase activity in mouse vaginal tissues. Of the LABs examined, Lactobacillus johnsonii HY7042 (LJ) most potently inhibited G. vaginalis-induced vaginosis. This LAB also inhibited the expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2, and iNOS, and the activation of NF-κB in vaginal tissues, but increased IL-10 expression. Orally administered LJ (0.2×108CFU/mouse) also inhibited the expression of TNF-α by 91.7% in β-estradiol-immunosuppressed mice intraperitoneally injected with LPS. However, it increased IL-10 expression by 63.3% in these mice. Furthermore, LJ inhibited the expressions of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-1β, and the activation of NF-κB in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. LJ also killed G. vaginalis attached with and without HeLa cells. These findings suggest that LJ inhibits bacterial vaginosis by inhibiting the expressions of COX-2, iNOS, IL-1β, and TNF-α by regulating NF-κB activation and by killing G. vaginalis, and that LJ could ameliorate bacterial vaginosis. ► Hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacillus johnsonii HY7042 inhibited Gardnerella vaginalis-induced vaginosis in mice. ► L. johnsonii killed G. vaginalis in vitro and in vivo. ► L. johnsonii inhibited TNF-α and IL-1β expressions and NF-κB activation in LPS-stimulated macrophages and mouse vaginosis.