Pruzinska et al. Lactobacillus plantarum LS07 + MTX.xlsx

Gut microbiome (GM) of rheumatic arthritis (RA) patients has been found to be altered in composition and function. Moreover methotrexate (MTX), one of the most frequently used diseases modifying antirheumatic drugs, has been reported to alter GM composition. The modulation of immune system activity is one of the therapeutic benefits of probiotics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of one of the <em>Lactobacillus</em> strain, <em>L. plantarum</em> LS/07, in combinational therapy with MTX in adjuvant arthritis (AA). The main methods applied were determination of biometric and inflammatory parameters in AA (plasmatic levels of IL-17A, MMP-9 and MCP-1 and activity of gamma-glutamyl transferase in spleen and joint). Further, PCR-DGGE (microbial community fingerprinting) was used to examine gut microbiome diversity of selected animals from healthy control as well as from all AA experimental groups. Our results suggest that application of LB and induction of arthritis had no impact on gut microbiome. However, all biometric and inflammatory parameters were influenced therapeutically, enhancing the effect of MTX. The most important contribution of this experiment could be concluded as the proof of the <em>L. plantarum</em> LS/07 potential to be used as additional therapy in arthritis, especially in combination with MTX.