Immune Response of Healthy Adults to the Ingested Probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota.

2016-12
Scandinavian journal of immunology 84(6)
- L S Harbige
- E Pinto
- J Allgrove
- L V Thomas

PubMed: 27718254
DOI: 10.1111/sji.12495

Study Design

Type: Clinical Trial
Population: healthy adults
Methods: Daily ingestion of a probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS; 1.3 × 10^10 live cells) for (1) 4-week LcS, (2) 6-week discontinuation of LcS and (3) a final 4 weeks of LcS
Duration: 14 weeks

Daily ingestion of a probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS; 1.3 × 10¹⁰ live 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.

Research Insights

Lacticaseibacillus casei→Increased IFN-γ Level
Mucosal salivary IFN-γ, IgA1 and IgA2 concentrations were significantly higher at week 14
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
1.3 × 10^10 live cells/day
Lacticaseibacillus casei→Increased Immune Marker Levels
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
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
1.3 × 10^10 live cells/day
Lacticaseibacillus casei→Increased Influenza-Specific IgG Level
LcS did not affect systemic circulating influenza A-specific IgA or IgG and tetanus-specific IgG antibody levels
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
1.3 × 10^10 live cells/day
Lacticaseibacillus casei→Increased Salivary sIgA Levels
Mucosal salivary IFN-γ, IgA1 and IgA2 concentrations were significantly higher at week 14
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
1.3 × 10^10 live cells/day
Lacticaseibacillus casei→Increased Serum Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Levels
LcS did not affect systemic circulating influenza A-specific IgA or IgG and tetanus-specific IgG antibody levels
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
1.3 × 10^10 live cells/day
Lacticaseibacillus casei→Increased T Cell Activation Marker Level
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
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
1.3 × 10^10 live cells/day
Lacticaseibacillus casei→Increased Tetanus-Specific IgG Level
LcS did not affect systemic circulating influenza A-specific IgA or IgG and tetanus-specific IgG antibody levels
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
1.3 × 10^10 live cells/day
Lacticaseibacillus casei→Reduced Interleukin-4 Levels
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
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
1.3 × 10^10 live cells/day
Lacticaseibacillus casei→Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels
Intracellular staining of IL-12 in ex vivo unstimulated and LPS-stimulated CD14+ blood cells was significantly lower at weeks 4, 10 and 14
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
1.3 × 10^10 live cells/day
Lacticaseibacillus casei→Reduced Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Production
Intracellular staining of TNF-α in LPS-stimulated CD14+ blood cells was significantly lower at weeks 4, 10 and 14
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
1.3 × 10^10 live cells/day