L. fermentum CECT5716 treatment ameliorated intestinal barrier dysfunction
The colonic barrier function has been reported to be altered in obesity, as it has been observed in the present study, since the expression of different proteins involved in epithelial integrity was reduced in colon tissue from control HFD-fed mice, including mucins (Muc-1 ,Muc-2 and Muc-3 ), Zo-1 , Occludin andTff-3 (Figure 5A). The beneficial effects observed with L. fermentum in obese mice were associated with the amelioration of the colonic expression of all these proteins, even obtaining similar expressions to those in non-obese control mice (Figure 5A). The improvement in colonic barrier function was associated with lower plasmatic levels of LPS in treated-obese mice when compared with non-treated ones, reaching similar concentrations to control mice (Figure 5B).