Use of a microbial endocrinology designed dopamine-producing probiotic to control gut neurochemical levels associated with the development of gut inflammation.

Abstract

Neurochemicals, such as the catecholamines, serve as critical regulators controlling the immune response in the pathogenesis of inflammation. Overproduction of one of these neurochemicals, namely norepinephrine, has been previously shown to occur concomitant to the development of diet-induced gut inflammation. As a pro-inflammatory neuroimmune modulatory chemical, norepinephrine can dysregulate the immune response to inflammation. In order to ameliorate the increased production of norepinephrine, we have utilized a microbial endocrinology-based approach that utilizes an Enterococcus faecium probiotic to produce the anti-inflammatory neurochemical dopamine. As shown in the present study, the feed incorporated E. faecium probiotic converts the precursor L-dopa to dopamine with high efficiency to produce significant amounts of dopamine within the gastrointestinal tract. In replicate broiler feeding trials utilizing a high non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) inflammation-inducing diet in combination or not with L-dopa alone or in combination with the dopamine-producing E. faecium probiotic, the NSP diet induced a large increase in norepinephrine concomitant to the development of inflammation that was abrogated in the groups fed the L-dopa precursor in combination with the dopamine-producing E. faecium. Less, though still significant, amelioration of the norepinephrine increase was achieved in the group only fed the L-dopa precursor. The present report represents the first use of a dopamine-producing probiotic to mechanistically influence the production of another neurochemical that is intimately involved in the pathophysiology of gut inflammation. As such, this study demonstrates that the use of a Microbial Endocrinology-designed probiotic can serve as a means by which to prevent and/or control the development of gut inflammation in poultry.