Effects of oral probiotics administration on the expression of transforming growth factor β and the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 6, interleukin 17, and tumor necrosis factor α in skin wounds in rats.

Background: Cytokines and growth factors play key roles during the tissue repair process. We aim to evaluate the effect of perioperative oral of probiotics, on the healing process in skin wound in rats, by histological aspects, and by the expression of TGF-β, and the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL6, IL7, and TNF-α.

Methods: 72 adult male Wistar rats were split into two groups control (n = 36) and probiotic group (n = 36). Each group was subdivided into three subgroups with 12 animals each according to euthanasia day: 3rd, 7th, and 10th postoperative(PO) day.

Results: Wound contraction was faster with the use of probiotics (p = .013). Also fibrosis was significantly higher in the Probiotic group in the 7th PO day (p = .028). In the probiotic group, there was a reduction of TNF-α at 3th PO day (p = .023); and a reduction of IL6 in 7th PO day (p = .030). There was also a reduction of the expression of IL-17 in 3rd PO day (p = .039) and 7rd PO day (P = .024). In contrast, TGF-β was lower in the 10th PO day (p = .031) in the probiotic group as compared to controls, indicating that the increase of the fibrosis caused negative feedback with the TGF-β.

Conclusion: Probiotics are associated with a shorter inflammatory phase by attenuating the expression of cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α and accelerating the reduction of IL-17 and TGF-β, leading to faster and improved cutaneous healing in rats.