Lactobacillus pentosus strain b240 suppresses pneumonia induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae in mice

Abstract

Aims: Oral administration of probiotics has been known to improve inflammatory responses against infectious diseases. Here, we describe the inhibitory effect of oral intake of heat‐killed Lactobacillus pentosus strain b240 (b240) on pneumococcal pneumonia in a murine experimental model. Method and Results: The mice treated with oral b240 for 21 days before Streptococcus pneumoniae infection exhibited prolonged survival time and less body weight loss, compared with saline‐treated control mice. Mild pneumonia with significantly reduced secretion of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines according to related mitogen‐activated protein kinase signalling molecules (phosphorylated c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase) was found in b240‐treated mice, whereas severe pneumonia with hypercytokinemia was evident in control mice. Prominent reduction in the number of pneumococci and elevated expression of Toll‐like receptor 2 and 4 in the lung tissues was concomitantly noted in b240‐treated mice. Conclusions: These findings indicate that b240 has inhibitory effects on pneumococcal pneumonia induced by Strep. pneumoniae infection and improves inflammatory tissue responses, resulting in reduced damages to the respiratory tissues. Significance and Impact of the Study: These results demonstrate that oral administration of b240 might protect host animals from Strep. pneumoniae infection by augmentation of innate immune response.

Associations between Gut Microbial Colonization in Early Life and Respiratory Outcomes in Cystic Fibrosis

“…The gut microbiota in CF has been demonstrated to be altered and less diverse with a paucity of health promoting bacteria, in murine models (74) and in humans (75, 76), even in the absence of antibiotic exposure. Several animal models have identified benefits of enteral probiotics and improvements in respiratory disease (77–79), and small randomized controlled trials of enteral probiotics, including Lactobacillus GG, have shown respiratory benefit in older children and young adults with CF (17, 18). Our findings suggest that the gut microbiome in CF in early life is a determinant of respiratory and systemic disease progression, affording opportunities to investigate nutritional and probiotic interventions to prolong a healthy microbiota and prevent morbidity in this important disease.…”

Protective efficacy of orally administered, heat-killed Lactobacillus pentosus b240 against influenza A virus

“…First, oral administration of b240 augments protection against not only different types of influenza viruses but also Streptococcus pneumoniae infection1314. During infections with gram-positive bacteria, such as Streptococcus agalactiae and pneumoniae , interferon production is believed to play a critical role in the clearance of the infection by the host48.…”

“…This strain enhances IgA production from Peyer's patch cells in mouse gut11 and accelerates salivary IgA secretion in humans12. Recent studies have shown that oral administration of heat-killed b240 protects mice from bacterial and viral infections, such as those caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and an influenza H1N1 virus (mouse-adapted laboratory strain, A/PR8/1934), by enhancing the innate immune resopnses1314. However, the mechanisms underlying this protection are poorly understood.…”

The airway microbiome in cystic fibrosis: challenges for therapy

“…For example, when Lactobacillus plantarum was injected locally into the burns of a mouse model of infection the pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa was affected including a significant increase in P. aeruginosa phagocytosis [84]. In a mouse model of pneumonia, it was reported that oral administration of Lactobacillus pentosus strain b240 reduced both the carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in the lungs as compared with salinetreated mice [85]. Histopathological examination of the lung tissue revealed less tissue damage in the probiotic treated mice.…”