de Roock S, van Elk M, Hoekstra MO, et al. Gut derived lactic acid bacteria induce strain specific CD4(+) T cell responses in human PBMC. Clin Nutr 2011 Jun 14. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 21680065
doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2011.05.005
The researchers used 19 different strains including Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus Rhamnosus. These were co-cultured for six days with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy adult donors with T cell subtype effects measured via mediated RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of, "signature transcription factors and cytokines".
"The expression of the transcription factor mRNA of co-cultured PBMC was subsequently compared to the expression in the absence of bacteria in the culture medium,"they wrote.
"many differences between strains were observed. Some strains seem to activate different subtypes of T helper cells (e.g. L. salivarius), while others specifically induce one subtype"
They said previous study outcome variability could be attributed to strain variation.
"For example, it is likely that the inconsistencies in the outcome of studies such as on the prevention of atopic disorders is due to subtle differences in the strains used,"they wrote.
"We conclude that to make well-founded choices on the type of probiotic strains to be used for clinical application, in vitro monitoring of the immunological effects of the strains using a high throughput method is highly recommendable," they concluded.
"By building on our current knowledge of strain specific immune modulatory effects it may become possible to design clinically effective, bacteria based strategies to maintain and promote health."
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Clin Nutr. 2011 Jun 14. [Epub ahead of print]
Gut derived lactic acid bacteria induce strain specific CD4(+) T cell responses in human PBMC.
de Roock S, van Elk M, Hoekstra MO, Prakken BJ, Rijkers GT, de Kleer IM.
Source
Center for Cellular and Molecular Intervention, Wilhelmina's Children Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Center for Cellular and Molecular Intervention, Wilhelmina's Children Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS:
Probiotic bacteria are used as food supplement in many different disease settings. The immune modulating capacity of different strains is not always properly tested which might result in a suboptimal choice of strains for clinical use.
METHODS:
Probiotic bacteria are used as food supplement in many different disease settings. The immune modulating capacity of different strains is not always properly tested which might result in a suboptimal choice of strains for clinical use.
METHODS:
The CD4 T cell responses to 19 different gut derived lactic acid bacteria were tested with different methods to show their diversity in immune modulation and to make a well-founded choice on which strains to use in future clinical trials. After co-culture of PBMC with bacteria, the induction of CD4(+) T cell subsets (regulatory T cells, T helper type (TH)1, TH2 and TH17) was analysed by rtPCR of transcription factor mRNA, intracellular FACS staining of transcription factors and cytokine production.
RESULTS:
Bacterial strains all have diverse, unique immune modulatory properties. Strains can induce Treg, TH1, TH2 and TH17 cells which can be shown at different levels of T cell activation, and is consistent for most strains tested. For TH1, TH17 and Treg, a positive correlation between the different methods was found. For TH2 cells the correlation was less consistent.
RESULTS:
Bacterial strains all have diverse, unique immune modulatory properties. Strains can induce Treg, TH1, TH2 and TH17 cells which can be shown at different levels of T cell activation, and is consistent for most strains tested. For TH1, TH17 and Treg, a positive correlation between the different methods was found. For TH2 cells the correlation was less consistent.
CONCLUSIONS:
Probiotic bacteria have very different immune modulating capacities. Analysis of transcription factor mRNA is a suitable method for in vitro characterization of strains prior to clinical application.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.
PMID: 21680065