A Novel Mediation Strategy of DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice Based on an Iron-Enriched Probiotic and In Vivo Bioluminescence Tracing

Iron deficiency (ID) caused by blood loss and/or reduced iron absorption is a serious problem influencing health in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, traditional iron supplements may fail to meet no side effect demands for ID of IBD; thus, a new iron supplementation is highly desired to be developed. Herein, for the first time, probiotic Lactobacillus alimentarius NKU556 with an iron-enriching ability was screened from Chinese traditional fermented food then employed to intervene DSS-induced colitis with bioluminescence tracing in mice. As expected, oral administration with NKU556-Fe can remarkably enhance the expression of tight junction proteins and effectively reduce the pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as the oxidative stress on DSS-induced colitis in mice. Meanwhile, in comparison with the FeSO4 group, the intake of NKU556-Fe could suppress the expression of hepcidin derived from the liver and reduce the degradation of FPN1, thereby leading to the increase in the iron absorption of colitis in mice. According to the bioluminescence result, it was believed that the beneficial effects of oral administration with NKU556/NKU556-Fe on DSS-induced colitis in mice were hardly related to its metabolites but associated with its own function. These results concluded that the oral administration of NKU556-Fe could relieve colitis inflammation and increase iron absorption. In summary, current work not only proposed a novel mediation strategy for IBD but also offered some inspirations for future treatment of extraintestinal complications.