Mixture of Two Lactobacillus plantarum Strains Modulates the Gut Microbiota Structure and Regulatory T Cell Response in Diet‐Induced Obese Mice

Scope The gut microbiota has been linked to diet‐induced obesity, and microorganisms that influence obesity have important health implications. In this study, the anti‐obesity effects of two Lactobacillus plantarum strains (DSR M2 and DSR 920) isolated from kimchi are investigated. Methods and results Mice are fed a normal or high‐fat diet with or without DSR M2 and DSR 920 (DSR, 1 × 109 CFU d–1) for 12 weeks. DSR improves the obesity state, as evidenced by the i) suppressed obesity‐related markers, e.g., gains in body weight and fat mass, ii) reduced serum and liver triglyceride levels, iii) upregulated β‐oxidation and downregulated lipogenesis‐related genes in the liver, iv) reduced serum leptin levels, v) altered microbial communities, vi) increased regulatory T cell immunity, and vii) suppressed inflammatory response. In addition, correlation analysis shows that Akkermansia muciniphila and the genus Anaerostipes, which are increased in the DSR group, are negatively correlated with obesity‐related markers, but Mucispirillum schaedleri, which is increased in the high‐fat‐diet (HFD) group, is positively correlated with serum leptin level. Conclusion Lactobacillus plantarum DSR M2 and DSR 920 are candidate probiotics for the prevention and amelioration of obesity. Oral administration of a mixture of two Lactobacillus plantarum strains isolated from kimchi ameliorates obesity symptoms by the suppression of triglyceride accumulation and inflammation, which is closely associated with altered structure of the gut microbiota.