Effect of LCFM on intestinal IL-10 and TGF-β.

<p>Cytokines expression was analyzed by qPCR. <i>L. casei</i> only group: mice fed for a week with LCFM. EC group: mice received 20 mg of streptomycin 24 h before intragastric infection with 3-4 x 10³ CFU of <i>S</i>. Enteritidis. <i>L. casei</i> + EC group: mice received the probiotic for a week before enterocolitis onset. Control group: untreated mice. <i>L. casei</i> + Strep group: animals were fed with the probiotic for a week and then received streptomycin. Results are expressed as mean +/- SD. Four animals per group were analyzed. (NS): no significant differences. Representative data from 3 independent experiments.</p

Effect of LCFM on mesenteric cytokines after <i>Salmonella</i> enterocolitis.

<p>Cytokine expression was analyzed by qPCR 5 days after oral inoculation with 3-4 x 10³ UFC of the pathogen. EC group: mice received 20 mg of streptomycin 24 h before intragastric infection with 3-4 x 10³ CFU of <i>S</i>. Enteritidis. <i>L. casei</i> + EC group: mice received the probiotic for a week before enterocolitis onset. Control group: untreated mice. <i>L. casei</i> + Strep group: animals were fed with the probiotic for a week and then received streptomycin. Results are expressed as mean +/- SD. Seven animals per group were analyzed. (NS): no significant differences. Representative data from 3 independent experiments. </p

Effect of LCFM consumption on intestinal pathology during <i>Salmonella</i> enterocolitis.

<p>A to C: Histology of the intestine 2 days after oral infection with the pathogen. D: Intestinal inflammation scores. EC group: mice received 20 mg of streptomycin 24 h before intragastric infection with 3-4 x 10³ CFU of <i>S</i>. Enteritidis. <i>L. casei</i> + EC group: mice received the probiotic for a week before enterocolitis onset. Control group: untreated mice. (A) EC group: moderate enterocolitis, loss of normal villus architecture and height. (B) <i>L. casei</i> + EC group: regular display of intestinal villus, undistinguishable from Control group (C). HE; 40x. (NS): no significant differences. Data were collected from 3 independent experiments. </p

Effect of LCFM on intestinal permeability after <i>Salmonella</i> enterocolitis.

<p>A single dose of FITC–dextran was administered by gavage to the animals at day 2 post infection and the intensity of fluorescence was measured in serum 5 h later. EC group: mice received 20 mg of streptomycin 24 h before intragastric infection with 3-4 x 10³ CFU of <i>S</i>. Enteritidis. <i>L. casei</i> + EC group: mice received the probiotic for a week before enterocolitis onset. Control group: uninfected mice. <i>L. casei</i> + Strep group: animals were fed with the probiotic for a week and then received streptomycin. Results are expressed as mean +/- SD. Seven animals per group were analyzed. (NS): no significant differences. Representative data from 3 independent experiments. </p

Effect of LCFM consumption on joint during <i>Salmonella</i> enterocolitis.

<p><b>A</b>. TNF-α was measured in joint homogenates by ELISA 5 days after oral infection with the pathogen. Five animals per group were analyzed. <b>B</b>. IL-17 expression was analyzed by qPCR at day 5 post infection in joint draining lymph nodes. Seven animals per group were analyzed. EC group: mice received 20 mg of streptomycin 24 h before intragastric infection with 3-4 x 10³ CFU of <i>S</i>. Enteritidis. <i>L. casei</i> + EC group: mice received the probiotic for a week before enterocolitis onset. Control group: untreated mice. <i>L. casei</i> + Strep group: animals were fed with the probiotic for a week and then received streptomycin. Results are expressed as mean +/- SD. (NS): no significant differences. Data were collected from 3 independent experiments. </p

Effect of LCFM consumption on joint pathology during <i>Salmonella</i> enterocolitis.

<p>A to C: Histology of knee joints 5 days after oral inoculation with the pathogen. D: Synovial inflammation scores. EC group: mice received 20 mg of streptomycin 24 h before intragastric infection with 3-4 x 10³ CFU of <i>S</i>. Enteritidis. <i>L. casei</i> + EC group: mice received the probiotic for a week before enterocolitis onset. Control group: untreated mice. (A) EC group: moderate hyperplasia, with 3 to 5 layers of synoviocytes (arrows). (B) <i>L. casei</i> + EC group: normal synovial capsule (arrows), undistinguishable from Control group. (C) Control animals: normal synovial capsule (arrows). HE; 40x. Data were collected from 3 independent experiments. </p