Positive influence of E. coli strain Nissle 1917 on the intestinal epithelium

An increased permeability of the intestinal mucosa (“leaky gut”) for large-molecular antigens and even whole microorganisms from the gastrointestinal tract is suspected to be of pathophysiological importance in various types of diseases. E. coli strain Nissle 1917 has a positive influence on a damaged enteric mucosa displaying an increased permeability. This property is capable of improving the clinical symptoms in patients with liver cirrhosis.25

EcN is capable of strengthening certain structural elements which account for the cohesion of enterocytes in the gut mucosa, and stabilzes the intestinal barrier function. For example, EcN elicits both a curative and a prophylactic effect in cases when the intestinal barrier is disturbed by enteropathogenic E. coli-bacteria.26

An increased mucosal permeability for the dye Evans Blue effected by dextran sodium-sulfate in the colitis mouse model can be considerably decreased by a pretreatment with EcN.27

Action mechanisms and interactions of E. coli strain Nissle 1917 in the gut (bacterial antagonism) and the enteric epithelium (“host-cells signaling”, “cross talk”). 6; 10; 11

6) Schulze J et al. Probiotika – Mikroökologie, Mikrobiologie, Qualität, Sicherheit und gesundheitliche Effekte. Hippokrates, Stuttgart, ISBN 978-3-8304-5356-7, 2008.

10) Sonnenborn U, Schulze J. The non-pathogenic Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 – features of a versatile probiotic. Microbial Ecol Health Dis 2009; 21: 122–158.

11) Schiemann M et al. 125 Jahre E. coli – Bedeutung in Forschung und Medizin. Alfred-Nissle­-Gesellschaft (Hrsg.) Hagen, ISBN 3-9811198-4-3, 2010.

25) Lata J  et al. The effect of probiotics on gut flora, level of endotoxin and Child-Pugh score in cirrhotic patients: results of a double-blind randomized study. Eur J Gastroenterol ­Hepatol 2007; 19: 1111–1113.

26) Zyrek AA et al. Molecular mechanisms underlying the probiotic effects of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 involve ZO-2 and PKCz redistribution resulting in tight junction and epithelial barrier repair. Cell Microbiol 2007; 9: 804–816.

27) Ukena SN et al. Probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 inhibits leaky gut by enhancing ­mucosal integrity. PLOS ONE 2007; 12: e1308; 1–9.

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