Beneficial and immunomodulatory effects of heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L137 in normal and acute colitis mice

Postbiotics are suggested to confer health benefits via modulation of the host gut microbiota, and possess certain advantages over traditional probiotics in safety, production, and storage. As the gut microbiota are a vital contributor to the overall health of the host, we aimed to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of the postbiotic, heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L137 (HK L-137) in healthy mice, as well as their therapeutic effects in an acute colitis mouse model. In both models, treatment with HK L-137 increased the abundance of Lactobacillus species, improved intestinal barrier integrity via upregulation of ZO-1, as well as modulated cytokine levels. In colitis mice, treatment with HK L-137 ameliorated disease-associated changes and exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect. Altogether, our findings demonstrate the beneficial effects of the postbiotic HK L-137 and its potential for further development for the maintenance of health and therapy of IBD.