New strain of Pediococcus pentosaceus alleviates ethanol-induced liver injury by modulating the gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid metabolism

Figure 2 Effects of the Pediococcus pentosaceus treatment on lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and proinflammatory cytokine levels during ethanol-induced liver injury. The serum levels of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor-α, keratinocyte-derived protein chemokine, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and expression of the Toll-like receptor 4 mRNA in the liver. All data are presented as means ± SE. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001 vs the Control group. ^dP < 0.05, ^eP < 0.01, ^fP < 0.001 vs the EtOH group. P. pentosaceus: Pediococcus pentosaceus; IL: Interleukin; G-CSF: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-α; KC: Keratinocyte-derived protein chemokine; MIP-1α: Macrophage inflammatory protein-1α; MCP-1: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; LBP: Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein; TLR4: Toll-like receptor 4.