Effects of inactivated bacillus sp. DU-106 on high-fat diet-induced obesity and the gut–liver axis

Abstract

Probiotics are often utilized for disease prevention, but the study of inactivated probiotics is still in its infancy. This study investigated the impact of both live and inactivated Bacillus sp. DU-106 on obesity-related liver lipid metabolism, the inflammatory response, and the equilibrium of the gut–liver axis. Both live and inactivated Bacillus sp. DU-106 ameliorated the development of metabolic disorders, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis in obese mice. The expression of proteins and mRNA related to hepatic lipid metabolism and inflammation was inhibited. Moreover, the intestinal barrier damage and intestinal flora composition caused by the high-fat diet were reversed. The total concentration of short-chain fatty acids increased after treatment with live or inactivated Bacillus sp. DU-106. Both live and inactivated Bacillus sp. DU-106 have antiobesity effects. We speculated that Bacillus sp. DU-106 does not colonize the gut but exerts its antiobesity effects by regulating gut–liver axis homeostasis through its intracellular components.