title: Effect of Probiotic Supplement on Cytokine Levels in HIV-Infected Individuals: A Preliminary Study.
abstract: Inflammation persists in patients infected with HIV. Reduction of inflammatory cytokines and microbial translocation might be one way that this could be managed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The anti-inflammatory properties of certain probiotic strains prompted us to investigate whether a probiotic could reduce the inflammatory index of HIV-infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 30 HIV+ males on antiretroviral therapy, who were given one bottle of fermented milk Yakult Light® containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) twice a day for four weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The probiotic LcS was associated with an increase of T lymphocytes and a significant increase of CD56+ cells (p = 0.04). There was also a significant decrease of mRNA levels of TGFβ, IL-10 and IL-12 (p < 0.001) and IL-1β expression (p < 0.001) and an increase of serum IL-23 (p = 0.03). In addition, decreased inflammation and cardiovascular risk were observed, as shown by a reduction of cystatin C (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data provide preliminary evidence that probiotic supplementation may modulate certain immunological parameters and some of the cytokines that were analyzed. Thus, we propose that LcS may be an inexpensive and practical strategy to support the immune function of HIV+ patients.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, 6610 Chieti, Italy. k.falasca@unich.it.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Falasca
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, 6610 Chieti, Italy. jvecchiet@unich.it.
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vecchiet
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, 6610 Chieti, Italy. claudio.ucciferri@unimol.it.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ucciferri
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biostatistics, Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy. mdinicola@unich.it.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Nicola
authors.affiliation: Unit of Immunodiagnostic and Molecular Pathology, Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy. chiara_dangelo@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.affiliation: Unit of Immunodiagnostic and Molecular Pathology, Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy. mreale@unich.it.
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reale
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D043302:Cultured Milk Products; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12
keywords: AIDS; ART; Lactobacillus casei Shirota; dietary supplements; inflammation; nutrition