The gastrointestinal tract holds trillions of bacteria, known as gut microbiome. When nonpathogenic gut bacteria are depleted by pathogenic inflammatory bacteria, dysbiosis occurs. SCIs cause secondary comorbidities, which will likely cause dysbiosis. The researchers analyzed the impact of a SCI on mice gut microbiome.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine published the study called, “Gut dysbiosis impairs recovery after spinal cord injury.”
Here are six observations:
1. SCI altered mice gut microbiome, migrating gut bacteria into other body tissues and activating proinflammatory immune cells.
2. The researchers found those mice with greater gut bacteria alternations recovered poorly from SCI.
3. The mice given daily doses of probiotics, however, were able to restore healthy gut bacteria levels, as well as suffered less spinal damage. They also regained more hind limb movements.
4. These probiotics contain lactic acid-producing bacteria, which activated a gut-associated immune cell, reducing inflammation.
5. The probiotic bacteria also have the potential to enhance recovery by secreting molecules for neuronal growth and function.
6. The researchers concluded “counteracting these changes with probiotics could aid patients’ recovery from spinal cord injuries.”
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