Unlocking New Ovarian Health Benefits: Lanzhou University and Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences Support Fabiotics Strain’s Latest Publication in a Nature Portfolio Journal
Unlocking New Ovarian Health Benefits: Lanzhou University and Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences Support FABIOTICS Strain's Latest Publication in a Nature Portfolio Journal
A new study on Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AL4510 has been published online in npj Science of Food, a Nature Portfolio journal:
High-altitude Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AL4510 alleviates superovulation-induced premature ovarian failure via the gut-ovary axis.
This marks another publication in an internationally authoritative journal for AL4510, following its cover article in Food & Function. It also represents another step forward for FABIOTICS's Mountain-Sea Strain Collections in the mining and industrial translation of high-altitude functional microorganisms.
Mountain-Sea Strain Collection: Mining Truly Functional Strains from Extreme Mountain and Marine Habitats
The Mountain-Sea Strain Collection is a microbial resource and functional screening platform established by FABIOTICS around extreme and distinctive habitats. "Mountain" refers to high-altitude environments such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; "Sea" refers to marine and Fujian coastal fermented ecosystems.
AL4510 is one of the representative achievements of the Mountain-Sea Strain Collection. It was isolated from traditional fermented dairy products at an altitude of 4,510 meters in Ngari, Tibet. The high-altitude, low-oxygen, intense-UV, and large-temperature-fluctuation environment shaped its unique antioxidant and adaptive capabilities.
Previously, a team led by Vice President Wang Wenfeng of the Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, in collaboration with Lanzhou University and other teams, conducted systematic exploration and validation of AL4510. The strain showed significant effects in alleviating hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension, delaying aging, and improving intestinal inflammation, with the results published as a cover article in Food & Function.
This time, the story of AL4510 extends from "high-altitude hypoxia anti-aging" to "women's ovarian health."
What Did the Study Find?
Premature ovarian insufficiency/premature ovarian failure (POI/POF) is a condition of ovarian functional decline before age 40, characterized by decreased ovarian reserve, hormonal disorders, menstrual abnormalities, and infertility. Existing hormone replacement therapy can relieve symptoms but is difficult to fundamentally protect ovarian function.
The research team established a mouse model of POF induced by consecutive superovulation. Consecutive ovulation itself resembles repeated inflammation and oxidative stress, which can accelerate follicle depletion and ovarian aging.
The mice were then orally administered AL4510, and systematic evaluations were conducted at multiple levels, including the ovary, gut, microbiota, metabolites, and transcriptome.
1. High Altitude Shaped the Genomic Features of AL4510
Whole-genome sequencing showed that AL4510 carries complete glutathione metabolism pathway genes (gshA, gor, zwf, gntZ) and antioxidant genes such as catalase (katE) and thioredoxin (trxA), providing a genetic basis for multiple antioxidant defenses.
2. Restored Ovarian Reserve and Endocrine Balance
After AL4510 intervention in POF model mice, the ovarian index significantly increased, serum FSH and LH levels decreased, and AMH, E2, and PROG levels were restored. Histological analysis showed increased numbers of primordial and secondary follicles and reduced atretic follicles.
3. Reduced Ovarian Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Cellular Senescence
After AL4510 intervention, expression of the senescence marker p16 decreased, MDA content decreased, SOD and GSH-Px activities increased, and levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α significantly decreased.
4. Repaired the Intestinal Barrier and Improved Intestinal Inflammation
Model mice showed damaged colonic mucosa and decreased ZO-1, along with increased intestinal oxidative stress and inflammation. After AL4510 intervention, colonic damage was alleviated, ZO-1 was restored, intestinal MDA decreased, SOD and GSH-Px rebounded, IL-6 decreased, and IL-10 increased.
5. Reshaped Gut Microbiota and Restored Short-Chain Fatty Acids
AL4510 increased gut microbiota diversity, significantly enriched beneficial genera producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and suppressed potentially harmful bacteria. It also significantly restored intestinal concentrations of acetate, propionate, butyrate, and valerate.
6. Corrected Ovarian Transcriptomic Abnormalities; Multi-Omics Revealed the "Gut-Ovary Axis" Mechanism
Transcriptome sequencing indicated that AL4510 participates in protection by regulating steroid hormone biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, MAPK, and PI3K-Akt pathways. Untargeted metabolomics showed that AL4510 restored pregnenolone, pregnenolone sulfate, testosterone glucuronide, vitamin D3, and prostaglandin-related metabolites, regulating steroid hormone biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and cholesterol metabolism.
AL4510 protects ovarian function by remodeling gut microbiota, restoring SCFAs and key metabolites, and alleviating oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular senescence along the "gut-ovary axis."
Industrial Translation and Future Clinical Research
At present, the strain has completed customized process development and industrial translation at FABIOTICS. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AL4510 will ensure its excellent antioxidant and anti-aging performance through a proprietary production process. It has been incorporated in FABIOTICS ALTITUDE product line as the key ingredient of FABIOTICS anti-aging solution.
The team will continue to work with the Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences and Lanzhou University to advance clinical research on this strain for precision anti-aging in targeted populations.
References：
1. Pang, M., Fan, X., Li, X. et al. High-altitude Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AL4510 alleviates superovulation-induced premature ovarian failure via the gut-ovary axis. npj Sci Food (2026).https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-01102-0
2. Haiqing Sun, Zhenjiang Liu, Dongxu Wen, Di Xin, Yan Feng, Miao Pang, Xiaodan Huang, Wenfeng Wang, Bin Li; The gut microbiota–metabolome axis mediates the adaptive protective effects of a high-altitude probiotic against distinct aging etiologies. Food Funct. 2026; https://doi.org/10.1039/d6fo02156e