Enhancing immunity by dietary consumption of a probiotic lactic acid bacterium (Bifidobacterium lactis HN019): optimization and definition of cellular immune responses

Abstract

Objective: To de®ne the cellular basis for immune enhancement by a probiotic lactic acid bacteria strain (Bi®dobacterium lactis HN019); and to determine whether immune enhancement can be optimized by delivery in oligosaccharide-enriched low-fat milk. Design: A double-blind, three-stage before-and-after intervention trial. Setting: Taipei Medical College Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Subjects: Fifty healthy Taiwanese citizens (age range 41 ± 81; median 60) randomly allocated to two groups. Interventions: In stage 1 (run-in control stage) all subjects consumed reconstituted low-fat milk (LFM) for 3 weeks; in stage 2 (probiotic intervention) subjects consumed B. lactis in LFM (group A) or B. lactis in lactosehydrolysed LFM (group B) for 3 weeks; in stage 3 all subjects returned to non-supplemented LFM for a further 3 weeks (washout stage). The innate immune functions of two different leucocyte types (polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells and natural killer (NK) cells) were assessed at four time points via in vitro analyses on peripheral blood samples. Results: While consumption of LFM alone had no signi®cant effect on immune responses, stage 2 results indicated signi®cantly enhanced PMN cell phagocytosis and NK cell tumour killing activity following consumption of milk containing B. lactis. These increases levelled off following cessation of B. lactis consumption, but remained above the pre-treatment values. Increases in PMN and NK cell activity were greatest among subjects who consumed B. lactis in lactose-hydrolysed LFM. Conclusions: Dietary consumption of the probiotic bacterium B. lactis HN019 enhanced immune function of two different types of leucocytes; the degree of enhancement was increased by consuming B. lactis in an oligosaccharide-rich substrate. Sponsorship: Financial support was provided by the New Zealand Dairy Board.

Lactobacillus acidophilus 74-2 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis DGCC 420 modulate unspecific cellular immune response in healthy adults

“…Numerous studies dealing with the influence of probiotics on phagocytically active cells found corresponding results. For the strains L. rhamosus HN001, B. lactis HN019 and L. paracasei LTH 2579, it was shown to enhance the mononuclear leukocyte phagocytosis (Arunachalam et al, 2000;Chiang et al, 2000;Gill et al, 2001;Sheih et al, 2001;Jahreis et al, 2002). Indicating a stimulation of the immune system, these outcomes can be important for several population groups, for example elderly, stressed workers and children that are susceptible for infections.…”

“…Adhesion to the intestinal mucosa and bacterial-epithelial-crosstalk are important criteria for exerting effects (Lu and Walker, 2001;Ouwehand et al, 2003). Numerous studies have shown an influence of probiotics on markers for the unspecific cellular immune response (Chiang et al, 2000;Gill et al, 2001;Sheih et al, 2001;Jahreis et al, 2002). Concerning specific cellular markers for immunity, the results are inconsistent.…”

“…Concerning specific cellular markers for immunity, the results are inconsistent. However, most of these studies revealing such immunological effects did not consider the detection of administered probiotics in faeces (Chiang et al, 2000;Gill et al, 2001;Sheih et al, 2001).…”

Alternatives to in-feed antibiotics in pigs: Evaluation of probiotics, zinc or organic acids as protective agents for the intestinal mucosa. A comparison of in vitro and in vivo results

“…Indeed, it has already been shown that probiotics may lead to an increased IgA production [59] and stimulation of macrophage and NK activity [15,46]. Moreover, several studies have reported that probiotics are able to regulate both anti-and pro-infammatory cytokine production.…”

Perfil tecnológico de cepas de bifidobactéria em cultura pura e em co-cultura com Streptococcus thermophilus em leites orgânico e convencional

“…Idosos que consumiram B. latis HN019 tiveram aumento na capacidade fagocítica dos leucócitos periféricos, através de estímulo por contato direto das LAB e frações extracelulares da parede celular bacteriana (KELLER et al, 1994;MIETTINEN et al, 1996) e na produção de citocinas, como o interferon-α; entretanto, continua incerto qual tipo celular é primeiramente influenciado pelo probiótico (CHIANG, 2000).…”