Lactobacillus rhamnosus Ingestion Promotes Innate Host Defense in an Enteric Parasitic Infection

Abstract

Enteric parasite infections around the world are a huge economic burden and decrease the quality of life for many people. The use of beneficial bacteria has attracted attention for their potential therapeutic applications in various diseases. However, the effects of beneficial bacteria in enteric parasitic infections remain largely unexplored. We investigated the effects of ingestion of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (JB-1) in a model of enteric nematode (Trichuris muris) infection. C57BL/6 (resistant to infection), AKR (susceptible to infection), interleukin 10 (IL-10) knockout (KO), and mucin Muc2 KO mice were infected with T. muris and treated orally with probiotic JB-1 or medium. The mice were sacrificed on various days postinfection to examine goblet cells, epithelial cell proliferation, cytokines, and worm burdens. Treatment with JB-1 significantly enhanced worm expulsion in resistant C57BL/6 mice, and this was associated with increases in IL-10 levels, goblet cell numbers, and epithelial cell proliferation. Beneficial effects of JB-1 were absent in IL-10 KO and resistant mice treated with ␥-irradiated bacteria. Live JB-1 treatment also expedited worm expulsion in Muc2 KO mice and, more importantly, in AKR mice (susceptible to infection). Injection of IL-10 directly into the colonic tissue of uninfected mice induced goblet cell hyperplasia. These findings demonstrate that JB-1 modulates goblet cell biology and promotes parasite expulsion via an IL-10-mediated pathway and provide novel insights into probiotic effects on innate defense in nematode infection.

Interactions Among Urogenital, Intestinal, Skin, and Oral Infections in Pregnant and Lactating Panamanian Ngäbe Women: A Neglected Public Health Challenge

“…Furthermore, Lactobacillus casei increased the susceptibility of rodents to intestinal nematodes, 70 whereas Lactobacillus rhamnosus reduced the duration of nematode infection. 71 Our findings suggest that vaginal Lactobacillus may increase susceptibility to Ascaris or prolong duration of infection, an observation not previously reported.…”

Modulation of IL‐12 and IFNγ by probiotic supplementation promotes protection against Toxocara canis infection in mice

“…The reduction of IL‐10 mRNA promoted by S. boulardii may have helped to maintain the higher IL‐12 levels and hold back the establishment of infection in supplemented group, since the increase of IL‐10 act by antagonizing the effects of IL‐12 that could favour T. canis infection . In another study, the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus promoted increase of IL‐10 levels, which was related to increase of Trichuris muris expulsion from the gut of mice . In both studies, we noted a protective role of the probiotics tested, although in T. canis experiment IL‐10 reduction was beneficial whereas in T. muris experiment the opposite was observed.…”

“…Furthermore, the beneficial effect of IL‐10 on T. muris expulsion is caused by the fact that parasites present in the intestinal lumen are eliminated by the action of Th2 cytokine and IL‐10 McClemens et al . While in T. canis infection, the increase of IL‐10, with consequent reduction of Th1 cells, may cause immunosuppression and favour infection.…”

New Role of Nod Proteins in Regulation of Intestinal Goblet Cell Response in the Context of Innate Host Defense in an Enteric Parasite Infection

“…In addition to evidence of enhanced mucus secretion in response to intestinal microbes, studies have shown altered goblet cell responses in germfree animals (18,19,41). In our recent study, we observed that treatment with beneficial bacteria L. rhamnosus (JB-1) promotes T. muris expulsion in association with upregulation of goblet cells (42). It was also shown that depletion of flora with antibiotics reduced the worm burden in T. muris infection in susceptible mice (43).…”