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Chen et al. Microbiome Res Rep 2025;4:6 Microbiome Research
DOI: 10.20517/mrr.2024.38
Reports

Original Article Open Access

Lactobacillus johnsonii CCFM1376 improves
hypercholesterolemia in mice by regulating the

composition of bile acids

1,2
1,2
1,2
3,4
Kexue Chen , Danting Dang , Huizhen Li , R. Paul Ross , Catherine Stanton 3,4,5 , Wei Chen 1,2,6 ,
Bo Yang 1,2,3
1
State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.
2
School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.
3
International Joint Research Laboratory for Maternal-Infant Microbiota and Health, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu,
China.
4
APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork T12 X4H4, Ireland.
5
Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Cork P61 C996, Ireland.
6
National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.
Correspondence to: Prof. Bo Yang, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi
214122, Jiangsu, China. E-mail: bo.yang@jiangnan.edu.cn
How to cite this article: Chen K, Dang D, Li H, Ross RP, Stanton C, Chen W, Yang B. Lactobacillus johnsonii CCFM1376 improves
hypercholesterolemia in mice by regulating the composition of bile acids. Microbiome Res Rep 2025;4:6. https://dx.doi.org/10.
20517/mrr.2024.38
Received: 19 Jun 2024 First Decision: 25 Sep 2024 Revised: 22 Oct 2024 Accepted: 30 Oct 2024 Published: 9 Nov 2024

Academic Editor: Marco Ventura Copy Editor: Pei-Yun Wang Production Editor: Pei-Yun Wang

Abstract
Aim: Strains with high bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity have the potential to regulate cholesterol metabolism. This
study aimed to assess the alleviating effect of Lactobacillus johnsonii (L. johnsonii) CCFM1376, a strain with high BSH
activity, on mice with hypercholesterolemia and explore the mechanism of its effect through the modulation of bile
acid metabolism.

Methods: The BSH activity was measured using the ninhydrin method. C57BL/6J mice were given a high-
cholesterol diet to induce hypercholesterolemia with simultaneous gavage of L. johnsonii CCFM1376 for 8 weeks.
The biochemical parameters in the serum and liver of hypercholesterolemic mice were measured to assess the
alleviating effect of L. johnsonii CCFM1376 on hypercholesterolemia. Bile acid content in the mouse liver, serum,
distal ileum contents, and feces was determined using liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC-MS). RNA
was extracted from mouse ileum and liver, and the expression levels of relative genes implicated in bile acid
metabolism were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR).

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