为了研究和比较枯草芽孢杆菌和地塞米松 (Dexa) 在完全弗氏佐剂 (CFA) 诱导的关节炎中的疗效和安全性，我们使用糖皮质激素单一疗法 (Dexa 5 mg/kg/天) 和枯草芽孢杆菌 (1 × 108 CFU) /动物/天 p.o）作为预处理和同时治疗，持续时间为 35 天。本研究特别强调慢性方面，因为已知长期使用 Dexa 会产生不良副作用。 Dexa 治疗显着减轻了关节炎症状，但产生了严重的副作用，如体重减轻、死亡率增加、免疫抑制以及肝、肾和脾的组织学改变。 Dexa 还升高了这些器官中的氧化应激，从而导致了损伤。枯草芽孢杆菌治疗可改善关节炎症状，且不会产生任何有害的副作用，如 Dexa 治疗所见。免疫组织化学 (IHC) 分析显示，活化 B 细胞核因子 kappa 轻链增强子 (NF-κB)、白细胞介素 (IL)-1β、肿瘤坏死因子 α (TNF-α) 表达减少，核因子红细胞增多枯草芽孢杆菌和 Dexa 处理关节炎小鼠踝关节后的 2 相关因子 2 (Nrf-2) 表达。两种治疗方法也改善了放射学评分。这项研究的结论是，枯草芽孢杆菌可能是比 Dexa 更有效的治疗关节炎的替代品，因为它不会在延长治疗时产生危及生命的副作用。© 2023。作者获得 Springer-Verlag GmbH 德国的独家许可，施普林格自然的一部分。

To investigate and compare efficacy as well as safety of Bacillus subtilis and dexamethasone (Dexa) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis, we used glucocorticoid monotherapy (Dexa 5 mg/kg/day) and B. subtilis (1 × 108 CFU/animal/day p.o) as pre-treatment and concurrent treatment for a duration of 35 days. Specific emphasis was on chronic aspect of this study since long-term use of Dexa is known to produce undesirable side effects. Treatment with Dexa significantly attenuated the arthritic symptoms but produced severe side effects like weight loss, increased mortality, immunosuppression, and altered histology of liver, kidney, and spleen. Oxidative stress was also elevated by Dexa in these organs which contributed to the damage. Treatment with B. subtilis improved symptoms of arthritis without producing any deleterious side effects as seen with Dexa therapy. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) profile revealed decreased expression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and increased nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) expression by B. subtilis and Dexa treatment in ankle joint of arthritic mice. Radiological scores were also improved by both treatments. This study concludes that B. subtilis could be an effective alternative for treating arthritis than Dexa since it does not produce life-threatening side effects on prolong treatment.© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.