Probiotic Preparation VSL#3 Alters the Distribution and Phenotypes of Dendritic Cells within the Intestinal Mucosa in C57BL/10J Mice

Abstract

Probiotic nutrients have shown promise in therapy for the treatment of gastrointestinal inflammation, infection, and atopic disease. Intestinal dendritic cells (DC) play a critical role in shaping the intestinal immune response. In this study, we tested the effect of a probiotic preparation (VSL#3) on DC distribution and phenotypes within the intestinal mucosa using a lineage depletion-based flow cytometric analysis. In naïve C57BL/10J mice, intestinal mucosal DC were composed of plasmacytoid DC (pDC) and myeloid DC (mDC). The pDC were the dominant form in lamina propria and Peyer's patches, whereas mDC were the prevailing type in the mesenteric lymph nodes. Additional characterization of pDC and mDC with flow cytometry revealed that they expressed heterogeneous phenotypes in the intestinal mucosa. In mice gavaged with the probiotic VSL#3 for 7 d, the proportion of pDC within the lamina propria was >60% lower, whereas the pDC subset in the mesenteric lymph nodes was more than 200% greater than in sham-treated controls (P < 0.01). Within pDC, the proportion of functionally unique CX3CR1(+) DC was greater than in controls in both the lamina propria and the Peyer's patches (P < 0.01). In contrast to pDC, the mDC number was greater than in controls in all intestinal lymphoid tissue compartments in VSL#3-treated mice (P < 0.01). In conclusion, this study suggests that phenotypically and functionally distinct DC subsets are localized to specific lymphoid tissues within the intestinal mucosa and that the VSL#3 probiotic nutritional supplement alters the distribution of the DC subsets within the intestinal mucosa. These changes may be important in the alteration of mucosal immunity following probiotic VSL#3 therapy.

Low Doses of Allergen and Probiotic Supplementation Separately or in Combination Alleviate Allergic Reactions to Cow β-Lactoglobulin in Mice

“…VSL#3 has been shown to promote gut health and prevent chronic intestinal inflammation through stimulation of epithelial innate immunity (15) and also attenuate liver fibrosis (16). The dosages of BLG and VSL#3 were determined after careful consideration of dosages used in previously published papers (7,14,15,17). OT, OTP, PROC, and CTL + mice were i.p.…”

Pretreatment with the probiotic VSL#3 delays transition from inflammation to dysplasia in a rat model of colitis-associated cancer

“…The anti-inflammatory properties associated with VSL#3 administration have been linked to changes in the microflora and local immune responses in both humans and animals (30,53). Several animal studies and the use of CRC cell lines have demonstrated the potential effectiveness of administering probiotics alone, or, in combination with prebiotics, the potential to prevent neoplastic changes (35); however, knowledge of their effects and mechanisms of action in colitis-associated dysplasia is still sorely needed.…”

Intestinal dendritic cells

“…Administration of VSL#3 to naive C57BL/10J mice resulted in a decrease in plasmacytoid DC and an increase in myeloid DC in the lamina propria, Peyer's patches, and MLN, suggesting that probiotics alter the distribution of intestinal DC subsets within the intestinal mucosa. 241 Human monocyte-derived DC matured in the presence of Lactobacillus rhamnosus resulted in both reduced T-cell proliferation and IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 production. Lactobaccilus acidophilus NCFM (La) induced the activation and maturation of DC with upregulation of costimulatory molecules.…”