Immunomodulation of Human Blood Cells Following the Ingestion of Lactic Acid Bacteria

Abstract

Because of the lack of data that convincingly show immunomodulatory properties of lactic acid bacteria in humans, a study was performed in which healthy volunteers were divided into two groups and given a fermented milk product supplemented with Lactobacillus acidophilus strain La1 or Bifidobacterium bifidum strain Bb 12 for 3 wk. Blood was sampled throughout the study to assess changes in lymphocyte subsets or leukocyte phagocytic activity following consumption of the fermented products. No modifications of lymphocyte subpopulations were detected. In contrast, phagocytosis of Escherichia coli sp. in vitro was enhanced after the administration of both fermented products. The increment in phagocytosis was coincident with fecal colonization by the lactic acid bacteria and persisted for 6 wk after ingestion of the fermented products. By this time, the fecal lactobacilli and bifidobacteria had returned to concentrations prior to consumption. Nonspecific, anti-infective mechanisms of defense can be enhanced by the ingestion of specific lactic acid bacteria strains. These strains can be used as nutritional supplements to improve the immune function of particular age groups, i.e., the neonate or the elderly, for which these functions are diminished.

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

“…The ability of probiotic LAB to stimulate the human immune system has been demonstrated in previous studies (de Simone et al, 1986Simone et al, , 1991Solis-Pereyra & Lemmonier, 1991;Link-Amster et al, 1994;Schiffrin et al, 1995;Kishi et al, 1996). In particular, dietary consumption of some strains of LAB has been shown to enhance cellular immune responses, including phagocytosis, lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production (de Simone et al, 1986;LinkAmster et al, 1994;Schiffrin et al, 1995).…”

“…It is well known that some strains of LAB can enhance cellular immune function, either innate or speci®c, when used as a probiotic (de Simone et al, 1986(de Simone et al, , 1991SolisPereyra & Lemmonier, 1991;Link-Amster et al, 1994;Schiffrin et al, 1995;Kishi et al, 1996). However, studies conducted to date have generally indicated a positive effect on one particular cellular function, such as phagocytosis or cytokine-secreting activity (Schiffrin et al, 1995;Kishi et al, 1996;Donnet-Hughes et al, 1999).…”

“…However, studies conducted to date have generally indicated a positive effect on one particular cellular function, such as phagocytosis or cytokine-secreting activity (Schiffrin et al, 1995;Kishi et al, 1996;Donnet-Hughes et al, 1999). Our laboratory has recently identi®ed and characterised a new strain of Bi®dobacterium lactis (B. lactis HN019) which has potent enhancing properties on several aspects of cellular immunity in animal models (Gill, 1998;Prasad et al, 1999).…”

Probiotics as a help in children suffering from malnutrition and diarrhoea

“…It has been shown that phagocytic leukocyte activity of human blood cells, particularly granulocytes, is enhanced by the ingestion of fermented milk supplemented with Lactobacillus acidophilus La1 and Bifidobacterium bifidum Bb12 for 3 weeks (Schiffrin et al, 1995).…”

Dose–response study of probiotic bacteria Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB-12 and Lactobacillus paracasei subsp paracasei CRL-341 in healthy young adults

“…This was recently demonstrated with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB-12 as well as L. reuteri ATCC 55730 (Weizman et al, 2005). It has also been suggested that probiotics may alleviate clinical symptoms of pediatric atopic diseases (Isolauri et al, 2000;Kalliomäki et al, 2001Kalliomäki et al, , 2003Rosenfeldt et al, 2003;Rosenfeldt et al, 2004) and modulate immune functions (Schiffrin et al, 1995;Fukushima et al, 1998;Blum and Schiffrin, 2003;Hart et al, 2004;Valeur et al, 2004). Concerning the effect on blood lipids contradictory results has been reported.…”