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World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Aug 15, 2013; 4(3): 47-52
Published online Aug 15, 2013. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v4.i3.47
Probiotics for the treatment of Clostridium difficile associated disease
Leo R Fitzpatrick
Leo R Fitzpatrick, Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine Hummelstown, PA 17036, United States
Author contributions: Fitzpatrick LR wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Leo R Fitzpatrick, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, 1214 Research Boulevard, Hummelstown, PA 17036, United States. lfitzpatrick@psu.edu
Telephone: +1-717-310393 Fax: +1-717-5315013
Received: April 15, 2013
Revised: May 15, 2013
Accepted: June 1, 2013
Published online: August 15, 2013
Processing time: 115 Days and 16.6 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Certain probiotics can inhibit signal transduction pathways (i.e., transcription factors like cAMP response element-binding, activator protein 1, and nuclear factor kappa B), as well as attenuate the activation of ceratin certain kinases (e.g., p38 mitogen activated protein kinases). Inhibition of these Intracellular signaling pathways by probiotics results in effects on intestinal fluid secretion, neutrophil influx into the colon, inflammation and colonocyte apoptosis that may positively impact Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD). Understanding the mechanistic basis of CDAD, and how probiotics interfere at certain steps in the pathogenic process, may allow the development of novel probiotics that could have a future pharmacological impact on CDAD.