Effects of Live and Inactivated VSL#3 Probiotic Preparations in the Modulation of in vitro and in vivo Allergen-Induced Th2 Responses

Abstract

Background: The immunological mechanisms responsible for the immunomodulatory and anti-allergic effects of probiotic bacteria are still poorly defined. The combined effects of mixtures of different species of probiotic bacteria have been explored only in part. The present study describes the immunomodulatory activity of the VSL#3 probiotic preparation in in vitro and in vivo systems. Methods: The activation and cytokine production by in vitro probiotic-stimulated bone-marrow dendritic cells (BM-DCs) and spleen cells isolated from naïve or Par j 1-sensitized mice were investigated. Mice were intranasally administered a sonicate preparation of VSL#3 before immunization with rPar j 1. Serum antibody levels and cytokine expression in the lung were determined. Results: Both live and sonicated VSL#3 preparations induced maturation and cytokine production by BM-DCs. Cytokine production by spleen cells from naïve or Par j 1-sensitized mice was modulated by the probiotic preparations towards a Treg/Th0 profile, characterized by increased IL-10 and IFN-γ production. In vivo prophylactic treatment with VSL#3 induced a significant reduction of serum specific IgG1. At lung level, VSL#3 pre-treatment remarkably reduced IL-13 and IL-4 mRNA expression and increased IL-10 expression. Conclusions: The VSL#3 preparations have not only the capacity to bias primary immune responses towards a Treg/Th0-type profile, but also to modify in the same way the functional characteristics of established in vitro Th2 responses. In vivo studies on a mouse model of Par j 1 sensitization indicate that the prophylactic intranasal treatment with probiotic bacteria is able to modulate the development of Th2-biased responses.

Modulation of immunity and inflammatory gene expression in the gut, in inflammatory diseases of the gut and in the liver by probiotics

“…In agreement with the aforementioned study, Mastrangeli et al [45] (2009) demonstrated that the effects of VSL#3 on BALB/c mice bone marrow (BM) DC maturation were time-and dose-dependent and peaked after 18 h of co-culture at the 10 7 -organisms/mL dose. Live and sonicated VSL#3 induced a significant upregulation of CD83, CD86 and MHC class Ⅱ.…”

The immunomodulatory properties of probiotic microorganisms beyond their viability (ghost probiotics: proposal of paraprobiotic concept)

“…In the study by Mastrangeli et al (2009), both live and sonicated VSL#3 preparations were shown to modulate cytokine production by splenocytes in mice sensitised with Par j 1 (the predominant allergen protein from the pollen of Parietaria judaica) towards a Treg/Th0 profile characterised by increased IL-10 and IFN-c production. In addition, prophylactic treatment of mice by intranasal administration of sonicated VSL#3 cells before immunisation with recombinant Par j induced a significant reduction in serum antigen-specific IgG1, markedly reduced IL-13 and IL-4 mRNA and increased IL-10 expression in the lungs.…”

Preliminary Studies on the Prevention of the Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Response by <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> CECT7121 in Mice

“…Even though many studies have been undertaken to assess the effects of probiotics in allergic local pathologies, that is, alimentary allergy and asthma, no data are available regarding the influence of this bacterium on Th2-featured systemic allergic processes [11,21,22,23,24]. Therefore, in the present work we have assessed the effect of E. faecalis CECT7121 in a murine model of systemic allergy.…”