Fig. 2

Fold changes in mRNA levels of IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in the ileal mucosa of HC and IBS-D patients. IL-1α, IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA baseline levels were higher and IL-10 mRNA levels were lower in post-infectious IBS-D than HC. The stimulation of intestinal mucosa with 100 μg/ml LPS significantly increased mRNA levels of all cytokines in respect to baseline in both HC and PI-IBS D patients. In contrast, LPS treatment did not affect IL-10 mRNA levels in both HC and IBS-D. LC-DG treatment was effective in reducing IL-1α and IL-8 mRNA levels and increasing IL-10 m-RNA levels. PB treatment was effective in reducing IL-1α, IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA levels and increasing IL-10 m-RNA levels. ***p < 0.0001. HC: healthy controls; PI IBS-D: post-infectious irritable bowel disease diarrhea subtype; LPS: lipopolysaccharide; LC: Lactobacillus Casei DG; PB: postbiotic