Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of probiotics, namely the production of interferon γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) cytokines, in vitro and in vivo. Our experimental groups included ten lactic acid bacterial (LAB) strains, complex strains, a LAB cell free fraction and a control group. Our models included human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as the human model and BALB/c mice as the animal model. The experiment was carried out over a period of 4 weeks during which the food intake and the body weight of our animal model was reported weekly. BALB/ c mice were randomly divided into three groups and injected with 2 µg/ mouse and 6 µg/ mouse ovalbumin (OVA) mixed with complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) at week zero and two. After week four the serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) was measured. The results show that probiotic products induced IFN-γ, suppressed IL-4, and increased the IFN-γ/ IL-4 (Th-1/ Th-2) ratio significantly in PBMCs. Probiotic products also decreased significantly the serum total IgE and OVA-specific IgE levels in our animal model. Our study indicates that the multi-species probiotics may therefore have an anti-allergy effect. Key words: Probiotics, human peripheral blood mononuclear cell, cytokines, immunoglobulin E, anti-allergy effect.
Highlights
Food allergies to common allergens such as those found in eggs, peanuts and milk, typically produce a heightened immunoglobulin E (IgE) response, and they are usually characterized by an imbalance in the Th1/ Th 2 cell ratio (Tanabe, 2008)
When peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) cell: bacteria ratios were 10:1 and 100:1, the multi-lactic acid bacterial (LAB) product group stimulated the production of interferon γ (IFN-γ) and exhibited the better effect (Figure 1), and repressed the production of IL-4 (Figure 2)
We have shown that multi-species probiotic product induces cytokine expression in PBMCs in vitro
Summary
Food allergies to common allergens such as those found in eggs, peanuts and milk, typically produce a heightened IgE response, and they are usually characterized by an imbalance in the Th1/ Th 2 cell ratio (Tanabe, 2008). Evidence from patients suggests that a polarized Th2 response stimulates the production of IL-4 and interleukin 5 (IL-5). It is the elevated level of these cytokines that is thought to be responsible for the symptoms associated with food allergies. Probiotics are generally regarded as live and safe microorganisms that carry important health benefits for both humans and animals (Fuller, 1986) Their role is to modulate naturally occurring microflora (Fuller, 1986) which under normal circumstances plays an important role in homeostasis. Various researchers have indicated that lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB) may possess immune modulating and anti-allergenic properties (Matsuzaki, 1998; Ouwehand, 2007). Research publications indicate that these species may have the potential to help in the modulation of immune response to common allergens
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