Limosilactobacillus fermentum 2L may reduce brain inflammation caused by chronic stress by affecting the gut-brain connection in mice

Treatment with strain 2L reduced elevated corticosterone levels from 155.9 ± 17.2 to 121.3 ± 3.1 ng/ml (< 0.001) in UCMS mice.

• Chronic stress may lead to neuroinflammation and psychiatric disorders through gut-brain axis dysregulation.
• Strain 2L was selected for its strong survival in the gastrointestinal tract and its anti-inflammatory properties.
• Treatment with 2L significantly improved anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in mice subjected to unpredictable chronic mild stress.
• 2L treatment helped preserve the morphology of hippocampal neurons and normalized the dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
• Molecular analysis indicated that 2L restored important neurotrophic factors and receptors associated with mood regulation.
• The treatment also improved intestinal barrier function and reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

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