Immunostimulatory Activity of Lactic Acid Bacteria Cell-Free Supernatants through the Activation of NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways in RAW 264.7 Cells

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can improve host health and has strong potential for use as a health functional food. Specific strains of LAB have been reported to exert immunostimulatory effects. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the immunostimulatory activities of novel LAB strains isolated from humans and foods and to investigate the probiotic properties of these strains. Cell-free supernatants (CFS) obtained from selected LAB strains significantly increased phagocytosis and level of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. The protein expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, which are immunomodulators, was also upregulated by CFS treatment. CFS markedly induced the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and MAPKs (ERK, JNK, and p38). In addition, the safety of the LAB strains used in this study was demonstrated by hemolysis and antibiotic resistance tests. Their stability was confirmed under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Taken together, these results indicate that the LAB strains selected in this study could be useful as probiotic candidates with immune-stimulating activity.

The impacts of antimicrobial and antifungal activity of cell-free supernatants from lactic acid bacteria in vitro and foods

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are distinguished by their ability to produce lactic acid, among other interesting metabolites with antimicrobial activity. A cell-free supernatant (CFS) is a liquid containing the metabolites resulting from microbial growth and the residual nutrients of the medium used. CFS from LAB can have antimicrobial activity due to organic acids, fatty acids, and proteinaceous compounds, among other compounds. This review aims to summarize the information about CFS production, CFS composition, and the antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) activity of CFS from LAB in vitro, on foods, and in active packaging. In addition, the mechanisms of action of CFS on cells, the stability of CFS during storage, CFS cytotoxicity, and the safety of CFS are reviewed. The main findings are that CFS's antibacterial and antifungal activity in vitro has been widely studied, particularly in members of the genus Lactobacillus. CFS has produced strong inhibition of bacteria and molds on foods when applied directly or in active packaging. In most studies, the compounds responsible for antimicrobial activity are identified. A few studies indicate that CFSs are stable for 1 to 5 months at temperatures ranging from 4 to 35°C. The cytotoxicity of CFS on human cells has not been well studied. However, the studies that have been performed reported no toxicity of CFS. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate novel growth mediums for CFS preparation that are compatible with food sensory properties. More studies into CFS stability and cytotoxic effects are also needed.

Modulation of Macrophage Function by Lactobacillus-Conditioned Medium

Probiotics are used as microbial food supplements for health and well-being. They are thought to have immunomodulatory effects although their exact physiological mechanism of action is not clear. This study investigated the influence of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG conditioned media (LGG-CM) on macrophage phagocytosis of non-pathogenic Escherichia coli HfrC. The gentamicin protection assay was used to study the bacterial killing phases of phagocytosis. Macrophages co-incubated with E. coli for an hour allowed them to ingest bacteria and then the rate of E. coli killing was monitored for up to 300 min to determine the killing or digestion of the bacteria by recovering them from the macrophage lysate. We found that the LGG-CM significantly increased the bacterial killing by approximately 6-fold when compared with that of controls. By contrast, this killing process was found to be associated with enhanced free radical production via the activation of NADPH oxidase, stimulated by the LGG conditioned medium. We also found that the conditioned medium had small effect on nitric oxide (NO) generation, albeit to a lesser extent. This work suggests that LGG-CM may play an important role in suppressing the total microbial load within the macrophages and hence, the extent to which pro-inflammatory molecules such as free radicals and NO are generated. The modulation of inflammation-promoting signals by LGG-CM may be beneficial as it modulates bacterial killing, and thereby prevents any collateral damage to host.

Identification of TLR2/TLR6 signalling lactic acid bacteria for supporting immune regulation

Although many lactic acid bacteria (LAB) influence the consumer’s immune status it is not completely understood how this is established. Bacteria-host interactions between bacterial cell-wall components and toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been suggested to play an essential role. Here we investigated the interaction between LABs with reported health effects and TLRs. By using cell-lines expressing single or combination of TLRs, we show that LABs can signal via TLR-dependent and independent pathways. The strains only stimulated and did not inhibit TLRs. We found that several strains such as L. plantarum CCFM634, L. plantarum CCFM734, L. fermentum CCFM381, L. acidophilus CCFM137, and S. thermophilus CCFM218 stimulated TLR2/TLR6. TLR2/TLR6 is essential in immune regulatory processes and of interest for prevention of diseases. Specificity of the TLR2/TLR6 stimulation was confirmed with blocking antibodies. Immunomodulatory properties of LABs were also studied by assessing IL-10 and IL-6 secretion patterns in bacteria-stimulated THP1-derived macrophages, which confirmed species and strain specific effects of the LABs. With this study we provide novel insight in LAB specific host-microbe interactions. Our data demonstrates that interactions between pattern recognition receptors such as TLRs is species and strain specific and underpins the importance of selecting specific strains for promoting specific health effects.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG conditioned media modulates acute reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide in J774 murine macrophages

Phagocytes such as macrophages are capable of detecting and killing pathogenic bacteria by producing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Formation of free radicals in macrophages may be regulated by probiotics or by factors released by probiotics but yet to be identified. Thus, studies were carried out to determine whether cell-free conditioned medium obtained from cultures of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG-CM) regulate production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or nitric oxide (NO) in macrophages. J774 macrophages in culture were loaded with either H₂DCFDA for monitoring ROS or with DAFFM-DA for NO detection. Free radical production was measured on a fluorescence microplate reader and changes were analysed by Cumulative sum (CuSum) calculations. Low concentration of LGG-CM (10% LGG-CM) or LPS did not cause any significant change in basal levels of ROS or NO production. In contrast, high concentration of LGG-CM (75% and 100%) significantly enhanced ROS generation but also significantly reduced NO level. These findings are novel and suggest for the first time that probiotics may release factors in culture which enhance ROS production and may additionally reduce deleterious effects associated with excessive nitrogen species by suppressing NO level. These events may account, in part, for the beneficial bactericidal and anti-inflammatory actions ascribed to probiotics and may be of clinical relevance.

Immunomodulatory effects of Lactobacillus strains: emphasis on their effects on cancer cells

Lactobacilli are a group of normal microbiota whose immunomodulatory effects have been known for a long time. Recently, they have gained more attention for their direct and indirect effects on cancer cells. Several cell line experiments, animal model studies as well as clinical trials have indicated their inhibitory effects on cancer initiation and progression. Different lactobacilli strains could modulate innate and adoptive immune system. Such effects have been documented in modulation of function of T cells, dendritic cells and macrophages as well as cytokine production. In this review, the various immunomodulatory effects of lactobacilli on tumor cells as well as their direct cytotoxic effects on cancer cells are discussed.

Effect of L. plantarum cell-free extract and co-trimoxazole against Salmonella Typhimurium: a possible adjunct therapy

Background

Frequent and indiscriminate use of antibiotics has led to the development of multi-drug resistant bacterial strains. It necessitates the exploitation of alternative therapeutic strategies. In order to reduce the dose of antibiotic required and to decrease the associated side effects, the present study was aimed at evaluating the synergism, if any, between a conventional antibiotic, co-trimoxazole (CTZ)) and cell free supernatant (CFS) of a probiotic (L. plantarum) against S. Typhimurium NCTC 74. This antimicrobial combination was selected on the basis of antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Salmonella and L. plantarum.

Methods

The synergy was evaluated in terms of size of zone of inhibition, fractional inhibitory concentration index, time-kill assay (in-vitro) as well as macrophage functions (ex-vivo).

Results

The concentration producing the same or higher antibacterial effect (size of zone of inhibition) was reduced to half when both the agents were used in combination with respect to the concentrations required when used separately. CTZ and CFS exhibited synergetic activity against Salmonella by checkerboard microtitre test and the time-kill test. Ex-vivo studies demonstrated a significantly higher intracellular killing of bacteria by macrophages treated with CFS (80 AU/ml) + (CTZ) (2 μg/ml) as compared to when treated with both separately at higher concentrations. Significant reduction in the extent of lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels generated by macrophages in presence of CFS and CTZ, in conjunction, further substantiated the synergistic efficacy of the combination.

Conclusions

The antimicrobial efficacy of this combination indicates that it may serve as the basis in developing alternative strategies to combat Salmonella infections.