Immunomodulatory effects of potential probiotics in a mouse peanut sensitization model

Abstract

Peanut allergy accounts for the majority of severe food-related allergic reactions and there is a need for new prevention and treatment strategies. Probiotics may be considered for treatment on the basis of their immunomodulating properties. Cytokine profiles of probiotic strains were determined by in vitro co-culture with human PBMCs. Three strains were selected to investigate their prophylactic potential in a peanut sensitization model by analysing peanut-specific antibodies, mast cell degranulation and ex vivo cytokine production by splenocytes. The probiotic strains induced highly variable cytokine profiles in PBMCs. L. salivarius HMI001, L. casei Shirota (LCS) and L. plantarum WCFS1 were selected for further investigation owing to their distinct cytokine patterns. Prophylactic treatment with both HMI001 and LCS attenuated the Th2 phenotype (reduced mast cell responses and ex vivo IL-4 and/or IL-5 production). In contrast, WCFS1 augmented the Th2 phenotype (increased mast cell and antibody responses and ex vivo IL-4 production). In vitro PBMC screening was useful in selecting strains with anti-inflammatory and Th1 skewing properties. In case of HMI001 (high IL-10/IL-12 ratio) and LCS (high interferon-γ and IL-12), partial protection was seen in a mouse peanut allergy model. Strikingly, certain strains may worsen the allergic reaction as shown in the case of WCFS1.

Three Novel Candidate Probiotic Strains with Prophylactic Properties in a Murine Model of Cow's Milk Allergy

“…We confirmed a strong strain-specific impact on in vitro cytokine responses of human PBMCs to bacterial strains, as observed previously (14,(23)(24)(25), except for Bifidobacterium strains, which all displayed the same regulatory profile, with high IL-10 secretion and low IL-12 secretion levels. These results are in line with the study of Latvala et al, which showed that IL-10/IL-12 ratios were higher with Bifidobacterium strains than with Lactobacillus strains (26).…”

Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus Inhibits the Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps

“…Furthermore, for a given bacterial species, strain-specific immunomodulation of host cells has been reported (30)(31)(32)(33). The activation of NETs by E. coli was shown to compromise intestinal epithelial integrity (34).…”

Gnotobiology and the Study of Complex Interactions between the Intestinal Microbiota, Probiotics, and the Host

“…While some probiotic studies have demonstrated health benefits in clinical trials and experimental animal models, others have been inconclusive or negative. It is also clear from the literature that probiotic effects are strain dependent (Meijerink et al, , 2012. Furthermore, probiotic trials using the same strain have also generated conflicting results (Kalliomaki et al, 2010), suggesting that (epi-)genetic variation, lifestyle, and microbiota composition may influence responsiveness to probiotics in prevention of allergic disease.…”

“…Nevertheless, in recent years there has been considerable progress in understanding the mechanisms of probiotic action and in the future this should help to reliably select candidate strains for human trials. The in vivo effects of probiotics include effects on the mucosal barrier, immunity, and suppression of inflammation (Gluck and Gebbers, 2003;Karczewski et al, 2010;Meijerink et al, 2012). It is also possible that probiotic immunomodulation is indirectly linked to the effects of the probiotic strain on the resident microbiota (O'Toole and Cooney, 2008).…”

“…However, in murine models of allergic sensitization it is also conceivable that probiotics with Th1-skewing activities could attenuate antigen-specific IgE responses and allergic symptoms upon challenge. Indeed the use of probiotics to prevent and treat Th2-mediated food allergies by skewing the immune response toward a more Th1 cell type has been described in several mouse studies Schiavi et al, 2011;Meijerink et al, 2012;Zuercher et al, 2012). Some of the above-noted probiotic strains were selected in vitro for their capacity to induce Th1 cytokines in culture with PBMCs.…”