Potential of multi-strain probiotics extract as an anti-inflammatory agent through inhibition of macrophage migration inhibitory factor activity

Background: Probiotics are reported to have a role for improving health conditions and reduce the risk of diseases associated with inflammation. However, how they affect inflammation has not been well studied. The inflammation occurs during the progression of chronic diseases could damage the normal function of cells, tissues, and organs. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is recognized as a cytokine playing a key role in the inflammation process. Inhibition of its activity has been used by researchers as an approach for alleviating the inflammation. This study aims to evaluate the potential inhibitory effect of the extract of multi-strain probiotics consisting of Lactobacillus casei EMRO 002, L. casei EMRO 213, L. plantarum EMRO 009, L. fermentum EMRO 211, L. rhamnosus EMRO 014, L. bulgaricus EMRO 212,and Rhodopseudomonas palustris EMRO 201 on MIF tautomerase activity, the reversibility, and the mechanism of inhibition. Hence, the scope of this study is the evaluation of the functional characteristics of multi-strain probiotics extract on MIF activity.Methods:The multi-strain probiotics were centrifuged and the supernatant was separated from the pellet. The supernatant, i.e. the extract, was mixed with MIF and analyzed for its inhibition effect on MIF tautomerase activity. The reversibility of inhibition was evaluated by preincubation and dilution assays, and the mechanism of inhibition was determined by kinetic evaluation.Results:The multi-strain probiotics extract inhibited MIF tautomerase activity with an IC50 of 7.80 ± 1.96 mg/L. The preincubation and dilution assays showed that the inhibition is reversible, and the kinetic evaluation predicted that the extract components might bind to the enzyme active site and other site(s) of MIF.Conclusion:The findings show that the extract was able to inhibit MIF tautomerase activity reversibly and its components might bind to the enzyme active site and other site(s) of MIF suggest that the multi-strain probiotics extract has potential to be used as an anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of chronic diseases associated with inflammation.Keywords: Multi-strain probiotics, anti-inflammatory, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, reversible inhibition, kinetic evaluation.