Lactobacillus plantarum AR495 improves stress-induced irritable bowel syndrome in rats by targeting gut microbiota and Mast cell-PAR2-TRPV1 signaling pathway

Probiotics have great potential in regulating intestinal pain. In this study, the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum AR495 on the visceral sensitivity and gut microbiota of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) rats were studied. The results showed that tryptase released after mast cell activation and degranulation plays a key role in visceral pain, and L. plantarum AR495 reduced the stimulation of colonic mast cells and the expression of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) and TRPV1 in dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Research further showed that supplementation with L. plantarum AR495 increased the level of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and enhanced the barrier function of the colon. In addition, the microbiota analysis of the colon indicated that L. plantarum AR495 promoted the proliferation of Bifidobacterium and inhibited the proliferation of Lachnospiraceae, which alleviated the imbalance of the intestinal microbiota caused by IBS to a certain extent. In total, L. plantarum AR495 might reduce visceral sensitivity through the Mast cell-PAR2-TRPV1 signaling pathway by maintaining the homeostasis of the intestinal barrier.