Consumption of probiotics increases the effect of regulatory T cells in transfer colitis

✍ Scribed by Emil Rathsach Petersen; Mogens Helweg Claesson; Esben Gjerløff Wedebye Schmidt; Simon Skjøde Jensen; Peter Ravn; Jørgen Olsen; Arthur C. Ouwehand; Nanna Ny Kristensen

• Book ID: 102268242
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2012
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 476 KB
• Volume: 18
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1078-0998
• DOI: 10.1002/ibd.21709

✦ Synopsis

Background: Probiotics may alter immune regulation. Recently, we showed that the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM TM influenced the activity of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in vitro. The aim of the present work was to demonstrate if L. acidophilus NCFM TM also affects the function of Tregs in vivo.

Methods: Development of colitis after transfer of CD4þCD25À T cells and protection from colitis by Tregs was studied in immunodeficient SCID mice which were simultaneously tube-fed with L. acidophilus NCFM TM or L. salivarius Ls-33 for 5 weeks.

Results: Probiotic-fed SCID mice transplanted with low numbers of Tregs in addition to the disease-inducing T cells were completely protected from colitis. This was in contrast to the control group, which showed intermediate levels of inflammation. In addition, feeding with probiotics lowered serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in both colitic mice and in mice protected from colitis by Tregs. Gene expression patterns of rectum samples of protected mice that receive either one of the probiotics showed a closer resemblance to naı ¨ve SCID mice than did patterns of the control group. The mechanism of action of the probiotics appears to be an indirect effect by inducing a Treg-favorable environment rather than a direct effect on the Tregs.

Conclusions: L. acidophilus NCFM TM and L. salivarius Ls-33 feeding of SCID mice increases the in vivo effect of Tregs, resulting in a gene expression pattern in the rectum resembling that of the naı ¨ve SCID mouse.