Abstract
The effect of a heat-killed cell preparation of Enterococcus faecalis strain EC-12 (EC-12) on the gene expression of Na+–K+–2Cl− co-transporter 1 (NKCC1) in intestinal epithelial cells was evaluated by using rats. The NKCC1 gene in ileal epithelial cells was significantly up-regulated by the oral administration of EC-12. The results of this study suggest in vivo that EC-12 had the potential to stimulate intestinal NKCC1 expression.