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Mucosal Immunology and Probiotics

Current Allergy and Asthma Reports volume 13, pages 19–26 (2013)Cite this article

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.

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Fig. 1

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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.

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

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Immunology and Biotherapy, Dept. of Human Pathology, University of Messina, A.O.U. Policlinico, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98125, Messina, Italy

    Maria Luisa Dongarrà, Valeria Rizzello, Letizia Muccio, Irene Bonaccorsi & Guido Ferlazzo

  2. ClinicalUnit for Chronic Intestinal Disorders, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Messina, A.O.U. Policlinico, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98125, Messina, Italy

    Walter Fries

  3. Tropical and Parasitological Diseases Unit, Dept. of Human Pathology, University of Messina, A.O.U. Policlinico, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98125, Messina, Italy

    Antonio Cascio

Authors
  1. Maria Luisa Dongarrà
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  2. Valeria Rizzello
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  3. Letizia Muccio
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  4. Walter Fries
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  5. Antonio Cascio
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  6. Irene Bonaccorsi
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  7. Guido Ferlazzo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guido Ferlazzo.

Additional information

Drs. Dongarrà and Rizzello has an equal contribution to this paper, and Drs. Bonaccorsi and Ferlazzo also contributed equally to this paper.

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Dongarrà, M.L., Rizzello, V., Muccio, L. et al. Mucosal Immunology and Probiotics. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 13, 19–26 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-012-0313-0

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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