Orally administered heat-killed Lactobacillus gasseri TMC0356 can upregulate cell-mediated immunity in senescence-accelerated mice

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2012 Jan;326(2):125-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2011.02440.x. Epub 2011 Nov 15.

Abstract

The present study was conducted to test the ability of probiotic lactobacilli to alter age-related immunosenescence in host animals. Senescence-accelerated mouse prone 1 mice were orally fed heat-killed Lactobacillus gasseri TMC0356 (TMC0356) for 4 and 8 weeks at dosages of 10 mg day(-1) after a 16-week period of prefeeding with a standard diet. After 4 and 8 weeks of TMC0356 intervention, splenic activation of natural killer (NK) cells and mRNA expression of cytokines and other immune molecules in the lungs were analysed. After 4 and 8 weeks, splenic NK cell activities were significantly higher in the TMC0356-fed mice compared with control mice (P < 0.05). After 4 weeks, mRNA expression of interleukin-2 and interferon-(α and β) receptor 1 in lung cells isolated from the TMC0356-fed mice also increased significantly compared with that in lung cells from the control mice (P < 0.05). These results suggest that lactobacilli, especially certain selected strains, might enhance cell-mediated immunity in host animals and thereby alter age-related immunosenescence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Aging*
  • Animals
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Diet / methods
  • Hot Temperature
  • Immunity, Cellular*
  • Immunologic Factors / administration & dosage*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Lactobacillus / immunology*
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Probiotics / administration & dosage*
  • Spleen / immunology

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Immunologic Factors