Current Allergy and Asthma Reports

, Volume 13, Issue 1, pp 19–26 | Cite as

Mucosal Immunology and Probiotics

  • Maria Luisa Dongarrà
  • Valeria Rizzello
  • Letizia Muccio
  • Walter Fries
  • Antonio Cascio
  • Irene Bonaccorsi
  • Guido Ferlazzo
BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENCE (M FRIERI, SECTION EDITOR)

Abstract

The cross-talk between the mucosa-associated immune system and microbiota is critical in mucosal tissue homeostasis as well as in protection against infectious and inflammatory diseases occurring at mucosal sites. This recent evidence has paved the way to therapeutic approaches aimed at modulating the mucosa-associated immune system using probiotics. Different strains of probiotics possess the ability to finely regulate dendritic cell (DC) activation, polarizing the subsequent T cell activity toward Th1 (e.g. Lactobacillus (Lb) acidophilus), Th2 (Lb.reuteri and Bifidobacterium bifidum) or, as more recently demonstrated, Th17 responses induced by specific strains such as Lb.rhamnosus GG and Lac23a, the latter isolated in our laboratory. Here, we review some recent advances in our understanding of probiotics effects on mucosal immunology, particularly on cells of the innate immunity such as DCs. We also highlight our own experiences in modulating DC functions by commensal bacteria and discuss the relevance of probiotics administration in the treatment of human immunopathologies.

Keywords

Probiotics Commensal bacteria LAB Microbiota Lactobacilli Bifidobacteria Dendritic cells T- cell polarization Th1 Th2 Th17 Inflammatory bowel diseases Allergy Crohn’s disease Ulcerative colitis Immune-mediated diseases Interleukins TLRs MALT GALT IEC Immunotherapy Immunopathology Autoimmunity PRR PAMP Mucosal immunology 

Notes

Acknowledgments

Research in the authors’ laboratory is supported by Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC) IG11650 (to Dr. Ferlazzo). The authors are grateful to Claudio Naccari for his help in drawing the figure.

Disclosure

No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. 1.
    Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Working group. Guidelines for evaluation of probiotics in food. 2002, London, Ontario, Canada: FAO/WHO.Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    Peña JA, Rogers AB, Ge Z. Probiotic Lactobacillus spp. diminish Helicobacter hepaticus-induced inflammatory bowel disease in interleukin-10-deficient mice. Infect Immun. 2005;73(2):912–20.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    Guarner F, Malagelada JR. Gut flora in health and disease. Lancet. 2003;361:512–19.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    • Rizzello V, Bonaccorsi I, Dongarrà ML, et al. Role of natural killer and dendritic cell crosstalk in immunomodulation by commensal bacteria probiotics. J Biomed Biotechnol. 2011;2011:473097. This manuscript is the only review on the interactions of natural killer cells and DCs in the presence of commensal bacteria. It indicated how the presence of NK cells can shape the adaptive T cell response following DC recognition of bacteria. PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    Holzapfel WH, Haberer P, Snel J, et al. Overview of gut flora and probiotics. Int J Food Microbiol. 1998;41(2):85–101.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. 6.
    Östman S, Rask C, Wold AE, Hultkrantz S, et al. Impaired regulatory T cell function in germ-free mice. Eur J Immunol. 2006;36(9):2336–46.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    Mazmanian SK, Cui HL, Tzianabos AO, et al. An immunomodulatory molecule of symbiotic bacteria directs maturation of the host immune system. Cell. 2005;122(1):107–18.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    Walton KLW, He J, Kelsall BL, Sartor RB, et al. Dendritic cells in germ-free and specific pathogen-free mice have similar phenotypes and in vitro antigen presenting function. Immunol Lett. 2006;102(1):16–24.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    Herías MV, Hessle C, Telemo E, et al. Immunomodulatory effects of Lactobacillus plantarum colonizing the intestine of gnotobiotic rats. Clin Exp Immunol. 1999;116(2):283–90.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    Macpherson AJ, Uhr T. Induction of protective IgA by intestinal dendritic cells carrying commensal bacteria. Science. 2004;303(5664):1662–65.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    Bailey M, Haverson K, Inman C, et al. The development of the mucosal immune system pre-and post-weaning: balancing regulatory and effector function. Proc Nutr Soc. 2005;64(4):451–7.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. 12.
    Johansson ME, Larsson JM, Hansson GC. The two mucus layers of colon are organized by the MUC2 mucin, whereas the outer layer is a legislator of host-microbial interactions. PNAS. 2011;108(1):4659–65.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    Delves PJ, Roitt IM. The Immune System. N Engl J Med. 2000;343(1):37–49.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    Delcenserie IV, et al. Immunomodulatory Effects of Probiotics In the Intestinal Tract. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2008;10(1-2):37–54.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    • Broz P, Ohlson MB, Monack DM. Innate immune response to Salmonella typhimurium, a model enteric pathogen. Gut Microbes. 2012;3(2):62–70. This work described how the immune system can sense pathogenic bacteria in the gut. PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    Rimoldi M, Chieppa M, Larghi P, et al.: Monocyte-derived dendritic cells activated by bacteria or by bacteria-stimulated epithelial cells are functionally different. Blood 2005, 15, 106(8):2818-26.Google Scholar
  17. 17.
    • Kinnebraw MA, Pamer EG. Innate immune signaling in defense against intestinal microbes. Immunol Rev. 2012;245(1):113–31. A comprehensive recent review on innate immunity response against gut microorganisms. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. 18.
    •• McDole JR, Wheeler LW, McDonald KG, Wang B, et al. Goblet cells deliver luminal antigen to CD103+ dendritic cells in the small intestine. Nature. 2012;483(7389):345–9. This study showed that MALT-associated DCs can be tolerogenic for gut luminal antigens. PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. 19.
    Coombes JL, Siddiqui KR, Arancibia-Cárcamo CV, et al.: A functionally specialized population of mucosal CD103+ DCs induces Foxp3 regulatory T cells via a TGF-b and retinoic acid dependent mechanism. J Exp Med. 2007, 6;204(8):1757-64.Google Scholar
  20. 20.
    Iliev ID, Spadoni I, Mileti E, et al. Human intestinal epithelial cells promote the differentiation of tolerogenic dendritic cells. Gut. 2009;58(11):1481–9.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. 21.
    Macpherson AJ, Uhr T. Compartimentalization of the mucosal immune responses to commensal intestinal bacteria. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004;1029:36–43.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. 22.
    Zeuthen LH, Fink LN, Frøkiaer H. Toll-like receptor 2 and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-2 play divergent roles in the recognition of gut-derived lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in dendritic cells. Immunology. 2008;124(4):489–502.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. 23.
    Vega-Lopez M, Cole MF, Bellanti JA. The mucosal immune system in health and disease. Chapter 8, pp 255-286. In:Immunology IV.Clinical applications in health and disease Ed: Bellanti JA, Escobar- Gutierrez A, Tsokos GC, I Care Press, 2012.Google Scholar
  24. 24.
    Riedel CU, Foata F, Philippe D, et al. Anti-inflammatory effects of bifidobacteria by inhibition of LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation. World J Gastroenterol. 2006;12:3729–35.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  25. 25.
    • Wells JM, Loonen LM, Karczewski JM. The role of innate signaling in the homeostasis of tolerance and immunity in the intestine. Int J Med Microbiol. 2010;300(1):41–8. A nice depiction of PRR signalling in both mucosa-associated immune cells and epithelial cells. PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. 26.
    •• Kawai T, Akira S. The role of pattern-recognition receptors in innate immunity: update on Toll- like receptors. Nat Immunol. 2010;11(5):373–84. A relevant and updated review on pattern recognition receptors. PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. 27.
    Heine H, Lien E. Toll-like receptors and their function in innate and adaptive immunity. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2003;130(3):180–92.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. 28.
    Wells JM, Rossi O, Meijerink M, et al. Epithelial crosstalk at the microbiota-mucosal interface. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011;108(1):4607–14.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. 29.
    •• Abreu MT. Toll-like receptor signalling in the intestinal epithelium: how bacterial recognition shapes intestinal function. Nat Rev Immunol. 2010;10(2):131–44. A very good manuscript reviewing the current knowledge on TLR signalling in the gut. PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. 30.
    •• Round JL, Lee SM, Li J. The Toll-like receptor 2 pathway establishes colonization by a commensal of the human microbiota. Science. 2011;332(6032):974–7. A break-through manuscript showing that commensal bacteria can exploit the TLR pathway to actively suppress immunity. PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. 31.
    Janssens S, Beyaert R. A universal role for MyD88 in TLR/IL-1R-mediated signaling. Trends Biochem Sci. 2002;27(9):474–82.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. 32.
    Zubair A, Saad S, Frieri M. Role of Nuclear Factor kappa β in breast and colorectal cancer. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports. Sept 6, 2012 [Epub ahead of print].Google Scholar
  33. 33.
    Troy EB, Kasper DL. Beneficial effects of Bacteroides fragilis polysaccharides on the immune system. Front Biosci. 2010;15:25–34.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. 34.
    • Fries W, Comunale S. Ulcerative Colitis: Pathogenesis. Curr Drug Targets. 2011;12:1373–82. An updated review focused on new achievements in the various scenarios of the immune pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. 35.
    Yadav PK, Chen C, Liu Z. Potential role of NK cells in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. J Biomed Biotechnol. 2011;2011:348530.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. 36.
    Fink LN, Zeuthen LH, Christensen HR, et al. Distinct gut-derived lactic acid bacteria elicit divergent dendritic cell-mediated NK cell responses. Int Immunol. 2007;19(12):1319–27.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. 37.
    Denning TL, Wang YC, Patel SR, et al. Lamina propria macrophages and dendritic cells differentially induce regulatory and interleukin 17-producing T cell responses. Nat Immunol. 2007;8:1086–94.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. 38.
    Wilson KH: The gastrointestinal biota. In: Yamada T, ed. Textbook of Gastroenterology. 1999, 624-636.Google Scholar
  39. 39.
    Fric P. Probiotics in gastroenterology. Z Gastroenterol. 2002;40(3):197–201.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. 40.
    de Roos NM, Katan MB. Effects of probiotic bacteria on diarrhea, lipid metabolism, and carcinogenesis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71(2):405–11.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  41. 41.
    Santosa S, Farnworth E, Jones PJ. Probiotics and their potential health in claims. Nutrition Rev. 2006;64(6):265–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  42. 42.
    Takagi A, Matsuzaki T, Sato M, et al. Enhancement of natural killer cytotoxicity delayed murine carcinogenesis by a probiotic microorganism. Carcinogenesis. 2001;22(4):599–605.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  43. 43.
    Llopis M, Antolin M, Guarner F, et al. Mucosal colonisation with Lactobacillus casei mitigates barrier injury induced by exposure to trinitronbenzene sulphonic acid. Gut. 2005;54:955–59.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  44. 44.
    Liu YJ, Kanzler H, Soumelis V, et al. Dendritic cell lineage, plasticity and cross regulation. Nat Immunol. 2001;2:585–89.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  45. 45.
    Moseman EA, Liang X, Dawson AJ, et al. Human plasmacytoid dendritic cells activated by CpG oligodeoxynucleotides induce the generation of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. J Immunol. 2004;173:4433–42.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  46. 46.
    Foligne B, Grangette C, Pot B. Probiotics in IBD: mucosal and systemic routes of administration may promote similar effects. Gut. 2005;54:727–844.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  47. 47.
    Rakoff-Nahoum S, Paglino J, Eslami-Varzaneh F, et al. Recognition of commensal microflora by toll-like receptors is required for intestinal homeostasis. Cell. 2004;118(2):229–41.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  48. 48.
    Gill H, Prased J. Probiotics, immunomodulation, and health benefits. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2008;606:423–54.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  49. 49.
    Green EA, Choi Y, Flavell RA. Pancreatic lymph node-derived CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells: highly potent regulators of diabetes that require TRANCE- RANK signals. Immunity. 2002;16:183–91.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  50. 50.
    Green EA, Gorelik L, McGregor CM, et al. CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells control anti-islet CD8+ T cells through TGF-beta-TGF-beta receptor interactions in type 1 diabetes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003;100:10878–83.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  51. 51.
    Foligne B, Zoumpopoulou G, Dewulf J, et al. A key role of dendritic cells in probiotic functionality. PLoS One. 2007;2(3):e313.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  52. 52.
    • McLoughlin RM, Mills KH. Influence of gastrointestinal commensal bacteria on the immune responses that mediate allergy and asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011;127(5):1097–107. A comprehensive report on the beneficial effects of gut microbiota on human health. The manuscript also indicates interventional approaches that can create a healthy microbiota to confer maximum tolerogenic immunomodulatory effects in the gut and that will protect against systemic inflammatory disease pathologies. PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  53. 53.
    Shida K, Nanno M. Probiotics and immunology: separating the wheat from the chaff. Trends Immunol. 2008;29(11):565–73.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  54. 54.
    • Maslowski KM, Mackay CR. Diet, gut microbiota and immune responses. Nat Immunol. 2011;12(1):5–9. Interesting manuscript indicating the several links among diet, commensal bacteria and immune response. PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  55. 55.
    Ferlazzo G. Natural killer and dendritic cell liaison: Recent insights and open questions. Immunol Lett. 2005;101(1):12–7.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  56. 56.
    Fink LN, Zeuthen LH, Ferlazzo G, et al. Human antigen-presenting cells respond differently to gut-derived probiotic bacteria but mediate similar strain-dependent NK and T cell activation. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2007;51(3):535–46.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  57. 57.
    Ferlazzo G, Münz C. Dendritic Cell Interactions with NK Cells from Different Tissues. J Clin Immunol. 2009;29(3):265–73.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  • Maria Luisa Dongarrà
    • 1
  • Valeria Rizzello
    • 1
  • Letizia Muccio
    • 1
  • Walter Fries
    • 2
  • Antonio Cascio
    • 3
  • Irene Bonaccorsi
    • 1
  • Guido Ferlazzo
    • 1
  1. 1.Laboratory of Immunology and Biotherapy, Dept. of Human PathologyUniversity of MessinaMessinaItaly
  2. 2.ClinicalUnit for Chronic Intestinal Disorders, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical MedicineUniversity of MessinaMessinaItaly
  3. 3.Tropical and Parasitological Diseases Unit, Dept. of Human PathologyUniversity of MessinaMessinaItaly

Personalised recommendations