AUTHOR=Alves Claudia C. , Waitzberg Dan L. , de Andrade Laila S. , dos Santos Aguiar Laís , Reis Milene B. , Guanabara Camila C. , Júnior Odair A. , Ribeiro Daniel A. , Sala Priscila 

TITLE=Prebiotic and Synbiotic Modifications of Beta Oxidation and Lipogenic Gene Expression after Experimental Hypercholesterolemia in Rat Liver

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2017.02010

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2017.02010

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background and aims:</bold> Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by the presence of fat in hepatocytes because of decreased β-oxidation and increased lipogenesis. Prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotic have modulatory effects on intestinal microbiota and may influence the gut-liver axis. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of prebiotic, probiotics, and synbiotic on liver histopathology and gene expression related to β-oxidation and lipogenesis after hypercholesterolemia.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Wistar male adult rats (<italic>n</italic> = 40) were submitted to hypercholesterolemic conditions (HPC) (60 days). On Day 30 of HPC, rats were subdivided in 5 groups: negative control (NC): without HPC + Gv (distilled water); positive control (PC): with HPC + Gv (distilled water); prebiotic (PRE): HPC + Gv with prebiotic (Fiber FOS<sup>®</sup>); probiotic (PRO): HPC + Gv with probiotic strains Gv (Probiatop<sup>®</sup>); and synbiotic (SYN): HPC + Gv with synbiotic (Simbioflora<sup>®</sup>). All rats were sacrificed on Day 30 post-treatment. Blood was collected to verify total serum cholesterol, and liver tissue was sampled to verify histopathological changes and gene expression. Gene expression related to ß-oxidation (PPAR-α and CPT-1) and lipogenesis (SREBP-1c, FAS and ME) was evaluated in liver tissue using RT-qPCR.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> PC had higher cholesterol levels when compared to NC. PRE and SYN rats had lower cholesterol levels than PC. PC rats showed more histopathological changes than NC rats; PRE and SYN rats showed fewer alterations than PC rats. <italic>PPAR-α</italic> was expressed at higher levels in SYN and PC rats compared with PRE and PRO rats. <italic>CPT-1</italic> expression was similar in all groups. <italic>SREBP-1c</italic> was expressed at higher levels in PC rats compared with NC rats; levels were lower in SYN rats compared with PRO rats; levels were lower in PRE rats compared with PC and PRO rats. <italic>FAS</italic> was expressed at lower levels in PRE rats compared with SYN rats. <italic>ME</italic> expression was lower in PC rats compared with NC rats.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Prebiotic and synbiotic supplementation improve hepatic alterations related to hypercholesterolemia. These changes appear to be mediated by altered expression of genes related to β-oxidation and lipogenesis.</p>