Investigate the antioxidant effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus probiotic on the treatment of lung inflammation and function in mice exposed to cigarette smoke

• Grant number: 19/04178-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: June 01, 2019
• End date: May 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Flávio Aimbire Soares de Carvalho
• Grantee: Ana Karolina Carvalho Pereira de Sá
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia (ICT). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São José dos Campos. São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) may be characterized by an abnormal inflammatory response of lung tissues after chronic exposure to noxious particles or gases, and patients are diagnosed as having Pulmonary Emphysema or Chronic Bronchitis. In addition to the chronic conditions, the disease presents exacerbations which are associated with the severity of the disease related to the decline of pulmonary function and worsening of clinical signs. In COPD, oxidative stress stimulates inflammatory cells to release proteases, free radicals, and cytokines resulting in loss of lung elasticity, mucus hypersecretion associated with Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis, and causes changes in antioxidant enzymes. Although drug therapy is the first choice for the treatment of COPD, a growing number of studies have shown that dietary supplementation with probiotics may have a beneficial potential to reduce the inflammatory process of chronic diseases. Considering that oxidative stress is fundamental in the pathogenesis of COPD, there is an interest in understanding the antioxidant abilities of probiotics. In this sense, this project aims to investigate the effect of the probiotic L. rhamnosus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in oxidative stress in an experimental model of COPD. (AU)