The hypocholesterolaemic effects ofLactobacillus acidophilusAmerican Type Culture Collection 4356 in rats are mediated by the down-regulation of Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect ofLactobacillus acidophilus4356 on cholesterol metabolismin vivo.Rats were fed a cholesterol-enriched experimental diet with or withoutL. acidophilus4356 supplementation at a dose of 109 colony-forming units per d.L. acidophilus4356 feeding significantly lowered total serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and TAG concentrations, but there was no change in the serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations. In addition, total liver cholesterol and TAG were decreased in theL. acidophilus4356-fed group. The expression of Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 (NPC1L1) in the duodenum and jejunum was significantly decreased followingL. acidophilus4356 feeding.Lactobacillus acidophilus4356 increased the population of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the small intestine and faeces compared with the control. These results indicate that the probiotic potential of theL. acidophilus4356 strain in the control of cholesterol is at least partially mediated by the down-regulation ofNPC1L1. Furthermore, these results also potentially suggest a new mechanism that is responsible for the cholesterol-reducing effects of probiotics.