REVIEW article
Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Food Microbiology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1508382
This article is part of the Research TopicProbiotics for Global Health: Advances, Applications and ChallengesView all 30 articles
Unveiling the Potential of Lactobacillus Johnsonii in Digestive Diseases: A Comprehensive Review
Provisionally accepted
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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Background: Lactobacillus johnsonii(L. johnsonii) is a lactic acid-producing probiotic, possessing the potential to modulate intestinal microbiota balance, which can enhance immune function, and reduce the risk of intestinal infections. In recent years, increasing studies have demonstrated the positive impact of this strain and its metabolites on the health of multiple systems, including the stomach, intestine, liver, and brain. Objective: This article aims to systematically review the mechanisms of action and clinical application progress of L. johnsonii in the prevention and treatment of digestive system-related diseases. The focus is on exploring its systemic regulatory role through the "microbiota-gut-organ axis." Methodology: By collating and analyzing recent research findings on L. johnsonii, we evaluated its specific mechanisms in regulating intestinal barrier function, immune response, and neuroendocrine signaling pathways. This strain can be isolated and identified through experimental means, and its population abundance can be quantitatively analyzed, providing a basis for studying its biological functions. Results: Studies have revealed that L. johnsonii exhibits significant interventional potential in various cross-system diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease(IBD), intestinal infections, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori )-associated gastritis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and neurodegenerative diseases. These findings further validate the important role of this strain in maintaining intestinal microbiota homeostasis, regulating body metabolism, and brain-gut axis function. Conclusion: In summary, L. johnsonii shows great promise in digestive health by modulating immunity, enhancing the gut barrier and balancing gut microbiota. Future research should further explore its mechanisms of action, aiming to provide a solid theoretical foundation and experimental support for its precise therapeutic reality.
Keywords: Lactobacillus johnsonii, digestive diseases, Intestinal infections, Gut Microbiota, inflammatory bowel disease, brain-gut axis
Received: 09 Oct 2024; Accepted: 18 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhou, Ma, Huang, Yao, Yu, Chen, Yao, Zhu and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Lanping Zhu, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
Xin Chen, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.