Pediococcus acidilactici GR-5 alleviates hyperuricemia by degrading purine nucleosides and improving gut microbiota metabolism.

Reducing intestinal absorption by degrading purine nucleosides has been shown to alleviate hyperuricemia (HUA). The probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici GR-5, derived from the traditional food "Jiangshui", achieved efficient degradation of purine nucleosides through its unique purine nucleoside phosphorylase-DeoD. In the purine nucleosides-induced HUA mouse model, GR-5 treatment reduced serum uric acid (UA) by about 52.17%. GR-5 may improves tissue inflammatory damage by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammatory pathway, and restored the intestinal barrier by increasing tight junction proteins Occludin and ZO-1 expression, which outperforming the allopurinol. The mechanism of UA reduction may also involves inhibiting UA synthase activity and regulating UA transporters level. GR-5 colonization in intestine increased the abundance of Lactobacillus, improved the metabolism of purine, tryptophan and bile acid by gut microbiota, and increased the level of SCFAs. Overall, GR-5 may be a potential preventive agent for improving HUA and is expected to provide a healthy option for preventing diet-induced HUA.