Lachnospira eligens attenuates epileptogenesis via gut-brain axis regulation of blood-brain barrier integrity and neuroinflammation.

🥈 Top 2% JournalDec 8, 2025Theranostics

How a Gut Bacteria Helps Reduce Seizures

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Abstract

Epileptic rats showed a significant decline in the abundance of Lachnospira eligens before and after seizure onset (p = 0.041, p = 0.026).

Supplementation with Lachnospira eligens significantly reduced the frequency of grade 4-5 seizures (p = 0.002) and prolonged seizure latency (p = 0.005).
Improved barrier integrity was indicated by lower plasma FITC-dextran levels (p < 0.001) and increased expression of occludin in both colonic and cortical tissues.
Neuroinflammation was reduced, as evidenced by decreased microglial activation (p = 0.048) and lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β (p = 0.047), IL-6 (p < 0.001), and TNF-α (p = 0.002).
Serum butyrate levels increased (p = 0.014), and short-chain fatty acids inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide synthase in BV2 cells (p = 0.031).

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Emerging evidence implicates the gut microbiota in epilepsy pathogenesis through the microbiota-gut-brain axis, yet the functional contribution of specific microbial taxa to epileptogenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether() can alleviate epileptic activity by modulating the gut-brain axis, with a focus on intestinal barrier integrity, blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, and neuroimmune responses.Using a cobalt wire-induced rat epilepsy model, we performed fecal 16S rDNA sequencing to assess gut microbiota alterations. Rats received daily oral gavage ofor PBS for 15 days, with colonization confirmed by qPCR. Seizure activity was monitored using long-term video electroencephalogram (EEG) and Racine scores. Barrier function, systemic inflammation, and microglial activation were assessed using FITC-dextran (FD4, 4 kDa) assay, Western blotting (WB), immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), ELISA, and qPCR. Serum short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).Epileptic rats exhibited early gut microbiota dysbiosis, with a significant decline inabundance both preceding and succeeding seizure onset (= 0.041,= 0.026).stably colonized the gut (Day 6 and Day 15, both0.001). Supplementation significantly reduced grade 4-5 seizure frequency (= 0.002) and prolonged seizure latency (= 0.005). Barrier integrity improved, as indicated by lower plasma FD4 (< 0.001), increased colonic (WB:= 0.013; IHC:= 0.003) and cortical occludin expression (WB:= 0.002; IHC:= 0.01), and decreased serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) (= 0.011). Neuroinflammation was attenuated, including reduced microglial activation (= 0.048), lower pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β,= 0.047; IL-6,0.001; TNF-α,0.002), and decreased M1 polarization (= 0.004). Serum butyrate increased (= 0.014), and SCFAs, especially butyrate, suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced iNOS (= 0.031) in BV2 cells.These findings demonstrate thatmitigates epileptic activity by restoring intestinal barrier and BBB integrity and suppressing neuroinflammation. Our study highlightsas a promising microbiota-based intervention for epilepsy through modulation of the gut-brain axis. Rationale: Methods: -Results: -Conclusions: Lachnospira eligens L. eligens L. eligens Lachnospira P P L. eligens P < P P P P P P P P P P P = P = P P P L. eligens L. eligens

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