Two Species Inhibit the Growth and α-Toxin Production of and Induced Proinflammatory Factors in Chicken Intestinal Epithelial Cells .

is the causative pathogen of avian necrotic enteritis. spp. are well-characterized probiotics with anti-microbial and immune-modulatory activities. In the present study, we investigated the effects of and on the growth, α-toxin production and inflammatory responses of . In culture experiments, both lactobacilli inhibited the growth of ( < 0.01), accompanied with a decrease in pH ( < 0.01). Supernatants from lactobacilli cultures also suppressed the growth of during 24 h of incubation ( < 0.01), but this inhibitory effect disappeared after 48 h. Both lactobacilli decreased the α-toxin production of ( < 0.01) without influencing its biomass, and even degraded the established α-toxin ( < 0.01). Lower environmental pH reduced the α-toxin production as well ( < 0.01). Preincubation with decreased the attachment of to cells ( < 0.01) with the cell cytotoxicity being unaffected. Both lactobacilli pretreatment reduced the up-regulation of proinflammatory factors, peptidoglycan (PGN) receptors and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 in -challenged chicken intestinal epithelial cells ( < 0.05). In conclusion, and inhibited the pathological effects of conditions.