Oral Administration of L. Casei CRL 431 Increases Immunity in Bronchus and Mammary Glands

Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) found in numerous fermented products can interact with the gut associated lymphoid tissue increasing antibody (principally secretory IgA) production. IgA secreting cells can repopulate not only the lamina propria but also they can go to other distant sites such as bronchus, urogenital tract and mammary glands a phenomenon known as the IgA cycle. Later studies have shown that both B cells of other isotypes and T cells from Peyer's patches also exhibit gut-seeking properties. The aim of this study was to study the effect of different feeding periods of L. casei CRL 431 on the interaction with the immune cells in Peyer's patches studying the migration of not only the IgA+ cells, but also other immune cells (T lymphocytes) to other mucosal sites such as bronchus and mammary glands. BALB/c mice were fed with L. casei CRL 431 during 2, 5 or 7 days. At the end of the feeding period, the mice were killed and the small intestine, the lung and the mammary glands were removed. IgA+ cells and CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were counted in tissue slices using direct immunofluorescence. IgA+ cells increased in the intestine samples taken after 7 days of LAB feeding. In mammary gland and lung tissues, IgA+ cells increased after five days of feeding. CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were not able to migrate to sites distant from the intestine and their number did not increase in the lamina propria of the small intestine. L. casei CRL 431 was able to stimulate the IgA cycle without proliferation of T population. These results allow us to suggest that this LAB could be used as oral adjuvant to protect mucosal surfaces from intestinal and respiratory diseases, and would also be useful as an adjuvant to protect against mammary glands pathologies such as cancer.

The application of probiotic fermented milks in cancer and intestinal inflammation

“…Both B-cells and T-cells can migrate from Peyer's patches, found in the small intestine, to mucosal membranes of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts, as well as to the exocrine lacrimal, salivary and prostatic glands (30) . Thus, Lactobacillus casei CRL 431 orally administered has been able to stimulate the IgA cycle, increasing IgA ( + ) cells, not only in the intestine but also in the bronchus and mammary gland tissues (31) . The oral administration of milk fermented with L. helveticus R389 (bacteria with high protease and peptidase activity) also increased the number of IgA-secreting cells in the small intestine as well as in the bronchus of mice (32) .…”

Proposed Model: Mechanisms of Immunomodulation Induced by Probiotic Bacteria

“…A more recent one from FAO/WHO is the following: "live microorganisms that when being administered in appropriate dose, they confer a benefit of health to the receiver." Some of the health benefits which have been claimed for probiotics include the following: improvement of the normal microflora (2), prevention of infectious diseases (3,6,9,11,13,65,83) and food allergies (51,61), reduction of serum cholesterol (23,77), anticarcinogenic activity (14,18,33,35,73), stabilization of the gut mucosal barrier (79), immune adjuvant properties (15,20,24,28,36,40,77,80,92), alleviation of intestinal bowel disease symptoms (31,82), and improvement in the digestion of lactose in intolerant hosts (19,42).…”

Modification in the diet can induce beneficial effects against breast cancer

“…In this sense, after intestinal stimulation, both B and T cells can migrate from Peyer's patches to mucosal membranes of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and genito-urinary tract, as well as to exocrine glands such as the lacrimal, salivary, mammary and prostatic glands [91] . The oral administration of L. casei CRL 431 to mice induced an immune stimulation not only at the intestinal level, but also in bronchus and mammary glands [92] . Beneficial effects of probiotic LAB administration were reported for non-intestinal tumors.…”