title: Immune Response of Healthy Adults to the Ingested Probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota.
abstract: Daily ingestion of a probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS; 1.3 × 1010live cells) by healthy adults for (1) 4-week LcS, (2) 6-week discontinuation of LcS and (3) a final 4 weeks of LcS was investigated. There was a significant increase in expression of the T cell activation marker CD3+CD69+in ex vivo unstimulated blood cells at weeks 10 and 14, and there was a significant increase in the NK cell marker CD3+CD16/56+in ex vivo unstimulated blood cells at weeks 4, 10 and 14. Expression of the NK cell activation marker CD16/56+CD69+in ex vivo unstimulated blood cells was 62% higher at week 10 and 74% higher at week 14. Intracellular staining of IL-4 in ex vivo unstimulated and PMA-/ionomycin-stimulated CD3+β7+integrin blood cells was significantly lower at weeks 10 and 14. Intracellular staining of IL-12 in ex vivo unstimulated and LPS-stimulated CD14+blood cells was significantly lower at weeks 4, 10 and 14. Intracellular staining of TNF-α in LPS-stimulated CD14+blood cells was significantly lower at weeks 4, 10 and 14. Mucosal salivary IFN-γ, IgA1 and IgA2 concentrations were significantly higher at week 14, but LcS did not affect systemic circulating influenza A-specific IgA or IgG and tetanus-specific IgG antibody levels. In addition to the decrease in CD3+β7+integrin cell IL-4 and a reduced CD14+cell pro-inflammatory cytokine profile, at week 14 increased expression of activation markers on circulating T cells and NK cells and higher mucosal salivary IgA1 and IgA2 concentration indicated a secondary boosting effect of LcS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich at Medway, Chatham Maritime, Kent, UK.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Harbige
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich at Medway, Chatham Maritime, Kent, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing, Kingston University, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allgrove
authors.affiliation: Yakult UK Ltd, Anteros, Odyssey Business Park, South Ruislip, Middlesex, UK.
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology*; D039641:Integrin beta Chains / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D039641:Integrin beta Chains; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C091368:integrin beta7; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma