Preventive effects of Chinese Xinjiang naturally fermented yogurt separated from Lactobacillus rhamnosus AFY02 on acute gouty arthritis in mice

Lactobacillus rhamnosus AFY02 (LR-AFY02) is a newly discovered strain isolated and identified from naturally fermented yogurt in Xinjiang, China. This research aims to investigate the mechanism of action of LR-AFY02 in mice with acute gouty arthritis. We examined the degree of foot swelling, pain threshold, blood biochemical indicators, histopathological changes, and mRNA expression. LR-AFY02 can decrease the severity of mouse foot edema and raise the pain threshold. LR-AFY02 can increase the enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of glutathione (GSH) while lowering the enzyme activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in mice with acute arthritis. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in the blood of mice with acute arthritis are also decreased by LR-AFY02. Histopathological findings demonstrated that LR-AFY02 reduced tissue damage in the mouse foot and ankle joints. LR-AFY02 may suppress the mRNA expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), IL-6, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and TNF-α in the tissues of the ankle joints of mice with acute arthritis. Additionally, LR-AFY02 has the ability to increase the expression of catalase (CAT), manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD). As a result, it is clear that L. rhamnosus AFY02 is more effective than glucosamine sulfate at preventing acute gouty arthritis.