Immunomodulatory Effects of Probiotics on Cytokine Profiles.

Md Abul Kalam Azad,Dan Wan,Manobendro Sarker

doi:10.1155/2018/8063647

Abstract

Probiotics confer immunological protection to the host through the regulation, stimulation, and modulation of immune responses. Researchers have shifted their attention to better understand the immunomodulatory effects of probiotics, which have the potential to prevent or alleviate certain pathologies for which proper medical treatment is as yet unavailable. It has been scientifically established that immune cells (T- and B-cells) mediate adaptive immunity and confer immunological protection by developing pathogen-specific memory. However, this review is intended to present the recent studies on immunomodulatory effects of probiotics. In the early section of this review, concepts of probiotics and common probiotic strains are focused on. On a priority basis, the immune system, along with mucosal immunity in the human body, is discussed in this study. It has been summarized that a number of species of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium exert vital roles in innate immunity by increasing the cytotoxicity of natural killer cells and phagocytosis of macrophages and mediate adaptive immunity by interacting with enterocytes and dendritic, Th1, Th2, and Treg cells. Finally, immunomodulatory effects of probiotics on proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine production in different animal models have been extensively reviewed in this paper. Therefore, isolating new probiotic strains and investigating their immunomodulatory effects on cytokine profiles in humans remain a topical issue.

Highlights

Probiotics are living microorganisms that confer several health benefits when administrated in adequate amounts to the host [1, 2]
Researchers are shifted to discerning deeper understanding of whether probiotics exert health benefits; proposed reaction mechanisms include inhibitory effects of lactate on pathogens, production of short chain fatty acids, lowering the production of toxic substances contributing to pathologies such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and adherence of microbes to the gut through controlling water flow from the blood serum to the intestinal lumen [24]
Karamese et al [85] administrated a mixture of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species to rats for evaluation of the immunomodulatory effects of probiotics, where modulation or regulation of immune responses is evident through the upregulation of IL10 and the downregulation of tumor necrosis factors (TNFs)-α and IL-6

Summary

Introduction

Probiotics are living microorganisms that confer several health benefits when administrated in adequate amounts to the host [1, 2]. Probiotics stimulate, regulate, and modulate various different functions, including digestion, metabolism, epithelial innate immunity, competitive exclusion of pathogens, and brain-gut communication [3, 4]. The functions of probiotics can be classified as metabolic, protective, and trophic [9], since the trophic role has garnered attention in studies of immunomodulation. It has been reviewed that Bifidobacterium bifidum has a significant effect in enhancing antibody responses to ovalbumin, whereas B. breve has an increased humoral immune response after stimulation with IgA [15]. In the treatment of various diseases, including inflammation, intestinal bowel diseases, and colon cancer, there is an urgent need to study probiotic strains and their effects on immune modulation. Particular attention has been paid to probiotics and their immunomodulatory effects on cytokine profiles in terms of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the host

Background and Concept of Probiotics

Human Immune System

Immunomodulation of Cytokine Profiles

Conclusions