Protective Effect of Probiotics Against Irinotecan-Induced Fatty Liver Disease: An Animal Model

Abstract Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic disease that affects approximately 25% of the global population and 20% of patients using irinotecan (IRI). Although many studies have been conducted on the treatment of NAFLD, a standard treatment method superior to diet modification and exercise has not been discovered yet. It has been shown that the use of probiotics has positive effects on diet-related fatty liver disease. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether NAFLD caused by IRI, which is frequently included in the systemic treatment regimens of metastatic colon-rectum, stomach, and pancreatic tumors, can be prevented through the concomitant use of probiotics. Methods: In this study, which was planned as an experimental animal model, four groups of eight mice each (normal saline, IRI alone, IRI + probiotics, and probiotics alone) were formed, and at the end of the seven-week period, the effect of probiotic use was examined using biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses. Results: As a result of the examinations, a statistically significant improvement was observed in the IRI + probiotics group in terms of steatosis, lobular inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning, fibrosis, inducible nitric oxide synthase level, transforming growth factor beta level, and aspartate aminotransferase level compared to the group receiving IRI alone (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results obtained from this study suggest that the concomitant use of probiotics with IRI may reduce the development of fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis. Keywords: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, irinotecan, probiotics