Ricerc@Sapienza

Background: A convenient approach to modulation of the inflammation has an influence on the production of inflammatory mediators – icosanoids, generated in arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. The common therapeutic activity of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), such as aspirin, includes inhibition of two crucial enzymes of AA metabolism-cyclooxygenase-1 and-2 (COX-1/2), with certain risk for gastrointestinal and renal intolerance.

The underlying cause of morbidity in cystic fibrosis (CF) is the decline in lung function, which results in part from chronic inflammation. Inflammation and infection occur early in infancy in CF and the role of innate immune defense in CF has been highlighted in the last years. Once thought simply to be consumers of bacteria, macrophages have emerged as highly sensitive immune cells that are located at the balance point between inflammation and resolution of this inflammation in CF pathophysiology.

We investigated the efficacy of different probiotics and bacteria used in dairy products to prevent the development of obesity and ameliorate established obesity in C57BL/6J mice fed a high fat diet (HFD). For the preventive efficacy, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, L. acidophilus LA1/K8, a mixture of Bifidobacterium lactis Bi1, B. breve Bbr8 and B. breve BL10 (B. mix), or a mixture of L. bulgaricus Lb2 and S. termophilus Z57 were given to mice before (2 weeks) and together with HFD (12 weeks). B.