AUTHOR=Tian Xiaozhu , Yu Zhengsheng , Feng Pengya , Ye Ze , Li Rong , Liu Juyuan , Hu Junping , Kakade Apurva , Liu Pu , Li Xiangkai 

TITLE=Lactobacillus plantarum TW1-1 Alleviates Diethylhexylphthalate-Induced Testicular Damage in Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Decreasing Inflammation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00221

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2019.00221

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>Diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), acting as an endocrine disruptor, disturbed reproductive health. Here, we evaluated the effects of <italic>Lactobacillus plantarum</italic> TW1-1 (<italic>L. plantarum</italic> TW1-1) on DEHP-induced testicular damage in adult male mice. Results showed that oral supplementation of <italic>L. plantarum</italic> TW1-1 significantly increased the serum testosterone concentration, enhanced the semen quality, and attenuated gonad development defects in DEHP-exposed mice. <italic>L. plantarum</italic> TW1-1 also alleviated DEHP-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses by decreasing the mRNA expression and serum protein concentration of different inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6]. Furthermore, <italic>L. plantarum</italic> TW1-1 significantly reduced DEHP-induced intestinal hyper-permeability and the increase in the serum lipopolysaccharide level. Gut microbiota diversity analysis revealed that <italic>L. plantarum</italic> TW1-1 shifted the DEHP-disrupted gut microbiota to that of the control mice. At phylum level, <italic>L. plantarum</italic> TW1-1 reversed DEHP-induced <italic>Bacteroidetes</italic> increase and <italic>Firmicutes</italic> decrease, and restored <italic>Deferribacteres</italic> in DEHP-exposed mice. Spearman's correlation analysis showed that <italic>Bacteroidetes, Deferribacteres</italic>, and <italic>Firmicutes</italic> were associated with DEHP-induced testicular damage. In addition, the ratio of <italic>Firmicutes</italic> to <italic>Bacteroidetes</italic> (Firm/Bac ratio) significantly decreased from 0.28 (control group) to 0.13 (DEHP-exposed group), which was restored by <italic>L. plantarum</italic> TW1-1 treatment. Correlation analysis showed that the Firm/Bac ratio was negatively correlated with testicular damage and inflammation. These findings suggest that <italic>L. plantarum</italic> TW1-1 prevents DEHP-induced testicular damage via modulating gut microbiota and decreasing inflammation.</p>