Asymptomatic Clostridium perfringens Inhabitation in Intestine Can Cause Inflammation, Apoptosis, and Disorders in Brain

(CP) is a foodborne pathogen. The bacterium can also inhabit human gut without symptoms of foodborne illness. However, the clinical symptoms of long-term inhabitation have not been known yet. Therefore, the objective of this study was to elucidate the relationship between intestinal CP and other internal organs. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and CP were orally injected into 5-week-old (YOUNG) and 12-month-old C57BL6/J (ADULT) mice. Gene expression levels related to inflammation (tumor necrosis factor-α [ ], interleukin [ ]- , and ) and oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase [ ] , , , glutathione reductase [ ], glutathione peroxidase [ ] , and catalase [ ]) responses were evaluated in the brain, small intestine, and liver. In addition, apoptosis-related (BCL2-associated X [ ] and high-mobility group box-1 [ ]) and brain disorder-related genes (CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein [ ] , , C/EBP homologous protein [ ], and amyloid precursor protein [ ]) as brain damage markers were examined. The protein expressions in the brain were also measured. Gene expression levels of inflammation and oxidative stress responses were higher (