Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Q180 improves early HFD-induced MASLD by modulating gut–liver axis inflammation and barrier integrity

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Q180 improves early HFD-induced MASLD by modulating gut–liver axis inflammation and barrier integrity | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Q180 improves early HFD-induced MASLD by modulating gut–liver axis inflammation and barrier integrity Yeon-Woo Kim, Hyunchae Joung, Hyunsoo Jang, Jiwoo Lee, Ji-Woo Lee, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8716793/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) develops through systemic metabolic dysregulation and gut–liver axis–mediated inflammation, yet effective preventive strategies remain limited. Probiotics such as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum have emerged as potential modulators of intestinal barrier integrity and hepatic inflammation; however, preventive efficacy during early MASLD progression has not been fully elucidated. The present study evaluated whether Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Q180 (Q180) attenuates early high-fat diet (HFD)-induced MASLD in a murine model. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet or 60% HFD for 12 weeks, and Q180 was orally administered at 1.0 × 10⁹ CFU/day from weeks 5 to 12. HFD feeding induced obesity, hepatic lipid accumulation, and elevated NAFLD activity score (NAS), confirming early-stage MASLD. Although Q180 did not significantly reduce body weight gain or adipose tissue mass, Q180 significantly decreased hepatic triglyceride levels and NAS, accompanied by improvements in steatosis, hepatocellular ballooning, and inflammatory infiltration. Hepatic expression of Dgat1 and Sod was significantly upregulated, whereas Ldlr expression was downregulated. In the colon, Q180 markedly suppressed Tnf-α and Il-6 expression and partially restored Zo-1 , Occludin , and Muc2 expressions. Serum endotoxin levels were significantly reduced, with a decreasing trend observed in fecal endotoxin levels. Overall, Q180 exerted metabolic and immunological benefits during early MASLD progression by reducing hepatic lipid accumulation, enhancing antioxidant defenses, attenuating intestinal inflammation, reinforcing intestinal barrier integrity, and lowering endotoxin exposure. The results support Q180 as a promising probiotic candidate for the prevention and early management of MASLD through gut–liver axis modulation. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Q180 Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) Gut–liver axis Endotoxemia Hepatic steatosis Full Text Additional Declarations Competing interest reported. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Q180 is patented by CKDBiO. Authors affiliated with CKDBiO contributed to the study design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, as well as manuscript preparation. Authors from Dankook University conducted scientific research on this strain independently within the university. No other potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article have been declared. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8716793","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":585004285,"identity":"e3e16192-9e60-4822-8401-c066873f1ac3","order_by":0,"name":"Yeon-Woo Kim","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Dankook University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yeon-Woo","middleName":"","lastName":"Kim","suffix":""},{"id":585004287,"identity":"dcf389bb-7bec-4af9-aa6f-7adbf9eb5060","order_by":1,"name":"Hyunchae Joung","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Chong Kun Dang Bio (South Korea)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hyunchae","middleName":"","lastName":"Joung","suffix":""},{"id":585004290,"identity":"1b76b2f1-7610-4f64-a949-36ceb18c9896","order_by":2,"name":"Hyunsoo Jang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Dankook University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hyunsoo","middleName":"","lastName":"Jang","suffix":""},{"id":585004291,"identity":"ecb4dfe0-d36b-4166-9b80-c177ff56a6ff","order_by":3,"name":"Jiwoo Lee","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Dankook University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jiwoo","middleName":"","lastName":"Lee","suffix":""},{"id":585004294,"identity":"3e60f214-4335-4f19-a38a-00ccfadaaab4","order_by":4,"name":"Ji-Woo Lee","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Dankook University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ji-Woo","middleName":"","lastName":"Lee","suffix":""},{"id":585004296,"identity":"831e2a60-1499-40ad-b9e2-e4fe44eaf2cb","order_by":5,"name":"Yoo Jin Kwon","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Chong Kun Dang Bio (South Korea)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yoo","middleName":"Jin","lastName":"Kwon","suffix":""},{"id":585004298,"identity":"2e135263-b0cb-47fd-b54f-0e9db8f704d0","order_by":6,"name":"Chang Hun Shin","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Chong Kun Dang Bio Research Institute","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Chang","middleName":"Hun","lastName":"Shin","suffix":""},{"id":585004299,"identity":"06272e53-d8f7-4bba-b83a-327e4b29a200","order_by":7,"name":"Jisu Lee","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Dankook University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jisu","middleName":"","lastName":"Lee","suffix":""},{"id":585004301,"identity":"c8f6a088-e87b-4814-a7ee-56b46b405c70","order_by":8,"name":"Jung-Heun Ha","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAuUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACAwbmAxIMDAkMDDxgfgIxWtgSSNbCY0CiFnP2Mx9v/NyRJsfPc4Dxww+GtHyCWix7cjdb9p7JMZbsbWCW7GHIsWwg6LADudskeNsqEjecZ2CQZmCoMCBoi8H5N88k/0K0MP8mTsuNHDZp3racxA1nG9iAtuQQo+WZsbVsW5qxZM/BNssegzRiHJb88ObbtmRgiCUfvvGjIpmwFiTA2ACKplEwCkbBKBgF1AAA2qA5K7ri0HEAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Dankook University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jung-Heun","middleName":"","lastName":"Ha","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-01-28 05:53:36","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8716793/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8716793/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":106567436,"identity":"0849af83-868a-4bee-9922-6d19661e80fd","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-10 02:25:12","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":747358,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"PAPMASLDQ180Manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8716793/v1_covered_62a851bd-e5c5-452c-b7b7-a802c147950c.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"Competing interest reported. 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No other potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article have been declared.","formattedTitle":"Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Q180 improves early HFD-induced MASLD by modulating gut–liver axis inflammation and barrier integrity","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Q180, Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), Gut–liver axis, Endotoxemia, Hepatic steatosis","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8716793/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8716793/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eMetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) develops through systemic metabolic dysregulation and gut\u0026ndash;liver axis\u0026ndash;mediated inflammation, yet effective preventive strategies remain limited. Probiotics such as \u003cem\u003eLactiplantibacillus plantarum\u003c/em\u003e have emerged as potential modulators of intestinal barrier integrity and hepatic inflammation; however, preventive efficacy during early MASLD progression has not been fully elucidated. The present study evaluated whether \u003cem\u003eLactiplantibacillus plantarum\u003c/em\u003e Q180 (Q180) attenuates early high-fat diet (HFD)-induced MASLD in a murine model. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet or 60% HFD for 12 weeks, and Q180 was orally administered at 1.0 \u0026times; 10⁹ CFU/day from weeks 5 to 12. HFD feeding induced obesity, hepatic lipid accumulation, and elevated NAFLD activity score (NAS), confirming early-stage MASLD. Although Q180 did not significantly reduce body weight gain or adipose tissue mass, Q180 significantly decreased hepatic triglyceride levels and NAS, accompanied by improvements in steatosis, hepatocellular ballooning, and inflammatory infiltration. Hepatic expression of \u003cem\u003eDgat1\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSod\u003c/em\u003e was significantly upregulated, whereas \u003cem\u003eLdlr\u003c/em\u003e expression was downregulated. In the colon, Q180 markedly suppressed \u003cem\u003eTnf-α\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eIl-6\u003c/em\u003e expression and partially restored \u003cem\u003eZo-1\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eOccludin\u003c/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eMuc2\u003c/em\u003e expressions. Serum endotoxin levels were significantly reduced, with a decreasing trend observed in fecal endotoxin levels. Overall, Q180 exerted metabolic and immunological benefits during early MASLD progression by reducing hepatic lipid accumulation, enhancing antioxidant defenses, attenuating intestinal inflammation, reinforcing intestinal barrier integrity, and lowering endotoxin exposure. The results support Q180 as a promising probiotic candidate for the prevention and early management of MASLD through gut\u0026ndash;liver axis modulation.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Q180 improves early HFD-induced MASLD by modulating gut–liver axis inflammation and barrier integrity","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-02-04 22:49:46","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8716793/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"24d960fc-2864-4d33-b56d-f784cd56d787","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 4th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-10T02:24:41+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-02-04 22:49:46","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8716793","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8716793","identity":"rs-8716793","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}