Basic Research
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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 7, 2006; 12(37): 5978-5986
Published online Oct 7, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i37.5978
Lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and E. coli nissle induce pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Ulf Helwig, Karen M Lammers, Fernando Rizzello, Patricia Brigidi, Verena Rohleder, Elisabetta Caramelli, Paolo Gionchetti, Juergen Schrezenmeir, Ulrich R Foelsch, Stefan Schreiber, Massimo Campieri
Ulf Helwig, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 1st Medical Department, Schittenhelmstr.12, 24105 Kiel, Germany, University of Bologna, Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Policlinico S. Orsola, Via Massarenti, 940138 Bologna, Italy
Karen M Lammers, Fernando Rizzello, Massimo Campieri, Paolo Giochetti, University of Bologna, Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Policlinico S. Orsola, Via Massarenti, 940138 Bologna, Italy
Patricia Brigidi, University of Bologna, Institute for Microbiology, Via Bellmeloro, 940138 Bologna, Italy
Verena Rohleder, Ulrich R Foelsch, Stefan Schreiber, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 1st Medical Department, Schittenhelmstr.12, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Elisabetta Caramelli, University of Bologna, Histology and General Embryology and Pharmaceutical Science, Via Bellmeloro, 940138 Bologna, Italy
Juergen Schrezenmeir, Federal Research Center for Nutrition and Food, Location Kiel, Institute for Physiology and Bioche-mistry of Nurtition, Hermann-Weigmann-Str.1, 24103 Kiel, Germany
Supported by a grant from “Trainig and Mobility of Researchers” program, RX-CT98-0240
Correspondence to: Dr. Ulf Helwig, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 1st Medical Department, Schittenhelmstr.12, 24105 Kiel, Germany. u.helwig@mucosa.de
Received: December 23, 2005
Revised: March 12, 2005
Accepted: February 25, 2006
Published online: October 7, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To investigate whether the stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) with the cell debris and cell extraction of different probiotic strains is similar or species specific.

METHODS: Three strains of bifidobacteria, 4 strains of lactobacilli, and E. coli nissle were sonicated and centrifuged in order to divide them into cell extract and cell debris. PBMNC were separated by density gradient and incubated for 36 h with either the cell debris or the cell extract of single strains of probiotic bacteria in doses from 102 to 108 CFU/mL. Cell supernatants were taken and interleukin (IL)-10, IL-1β, and tumor necosis factor (TNF)-α were determined by ELISA.

RESULTS: Depending on the species super-family, the strains had different stimulation patterns. Except for both L. casei strains, the cell extract of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli had less stimulating capacity than cell debris, whereas the cell extract of E. coli nissle had similar stimulating properties to that of the cell debris of the strain and significantly more stimulating capacity than that of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. The cell debris of bifidobacteria stimulated more cytokine release than the cell debris of lactobacilli. The cell debris of lactobacilli did not have a stimulating capacity when lower concentrations were used. Neither cell extraction nor cell debris had an inhibitory effect on the production of the tested cytokines by stimulated PBMNC.

CONCLUSION: The incubation of probiotic strains, which have been used in clinical trials for inflammatory diseases, with immunocompetent cells leads to different species specific reactions. High IL-10 response to cell debris of bifidobacteria and E. coli nissle can be found. This corresponds to positive effects of bifidobacteria and E. coli nissle in clinical trials for inflammatory bowel disease compared to negative outcomes obtained with lactobacilli.

Keywords: Lactobacilli; Bifidobacteria; Probiotics; Interleukin-10; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Interleukin-1β; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells