Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Probiotics: Potent Immunomodulatory Tool Against Allergy

  • Published:
Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Probiotics are defined as live microbial food ingredients that produce several beneficial effects to human health. Probiotic bacteria have been mostly investigated in the prevention of and treatment for different gastrointestinal diseases and allergies. It is not fully clear how probiotics exert their beneficial effects on health, but one of the most probable mechanisms of action is the modulation of immune responses via the mucosal immune system of the gut. Commensal bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract play an integral role in both innate and humoral immunity. It is well established that this protective role can be maintained or modulated by the ingestion of probiotics. More recently, it has been shown that specific probiotic strains can influence the secretion of cytokines to help direct naïve T-helper cells toward either a Th1-dominant, cell-mediated immune response or toward a Th2-dominant, humoral immune response. This paper will review current knowledge of the Th1/Th2 model of humoral immunity as well as introduce how strain-specific probiotics can be used therapeutically to help balance this immune response and therefore help prevent allergy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Schrezenmeir J, Vrese M (2001) Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics-approaching a definition. Am J Clin Nutr 73(suppl 2):361S–364S

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Isolauri E, Sutas Y, Kankaanpaa P, Arvilommi H, Salminen S (2001) Probiotics: effects on immunity. Am J Clin Nutr 73(Suppl 2):S444–S450

    Google Scholar 

  3. Neurath MF, Finotto S, Glimcher LH (2002) The role of Th1/Th2 polarization in mucosal immunity. Nat Med 8:567–573

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Di Giacinto C, Marinaro M, Sanchez M, Strober W, Boirivant M (2005) Probiotics ameliorate recurrent Th1-mediated murine colitis by inducing IL-10 and IL-10-dependent TGF-beta-bearing regulatory cells. J Immunol 174:3237–3246

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Von der Weid T, Bulliard C, Schiffrin EJ (2001) Induction by a lactic acid bacterium of a population of CD4 (+) T cells with low proliferative capacities that produce transforming growth factor beta and interleukin-10. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 8:695–701

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hessle C, Hanson LA, Wold AE (1999) Lactobacilli from human gastrointestinal mucosa are strong stimulators of IL-12 production. Clin Exp Immunol 116:276–282

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Miettinen M, Matikainen S, Vuopio-Varkila J (1998) Lactobacilli and streptococci induce interleukin-12 (IL-12), IL-18, and gamma interferon production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Infect Immun 66:6058–6062

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Murosaki S, Yamamoto Y, Ito K (1998) Heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 suppresses naturally fed antigen-specific IgE production by stimulation of IL-12 production in mice. J Allergy Clin Immunol 102:57–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Cross ML, Mortensen RR, Kudsk J, Gill HS (2002) Dietary intake of Lactobacillus rhamnosus HNOO1 enhances production of both Th1 and Th2 cytokines in antigen-primed mice. Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl) 191:49–53

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Pohjavuori E, Viljanen M, Korpela R (2004) Lactobacillus GG effect in increasing IFN-gamma production in infants with cow’s milk allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 114:131–136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Rosenfeldt V, Benfeldt E, Valerius NH, Paerregaard A, Michaelsen KF (2004) Effect of probiotics on gastrointestinal symptoms and small intestinal permeability in children with atopic dermatitis. J Pediatr 145:612–616

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Majamaa H, Isolauri E (1997) Probiotics: a novel approach in the management of food allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 99:179–185

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Pessi T, Sutas Y, Hurme M, Isolauri E (2000) Interleukin-10 generation in atopic children following oral Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Clin Exp Allergy 30:1804–1808

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wheeler JG, Bogle ML, Shema SJ (1997) Impact of dietary yogurt on immune function. Am J Med Sci 313:120–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Wheeler JG, Shema SJ, Bogle ML (1997) Immune and clinical impact of Lactobacillus acidophilus on asthma. Ann A llergy Asthma Immunol 79:229–233

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Aldinucci C, Bellussi L, Monciatti G (2002) Effects of dietary yoghurt on immunological and clinical parameters of rhinopathic patients. Eur J Clin Nutr 56:1155–1161

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Helin T, Haahtela S, Haahtela T (2002) No effect of oral treatment with an intestinal bacterial strain, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (ATCC 53103), on birch-pollen allergy: a placebo-controlled double-blind study. Allergy 57:243–246

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Brouwer ML, Wolt-Plompen SA, Dubois AEJ et al (2006) No effect of probiotics on atopic dermatitis in infancy: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Clin Exp Allergy 36:899–906

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Grüber C, Wendt M, Sulser C, Lau S, Kulig M, Wahn U, Werfel T, Niggemann B (2007) Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG as treatment of atopic dermatitis in infancy. Allergy 62:1270–1276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Kopp MV, Hennemuth I, Urbanek R (2008) Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of probiotics for primary prevention: no clinical effect of Lactobacillus GG supplementation. Pediatrics 121:e850–e856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Isolauri E, Arvola T, Sutas Y, Moilanen E, Salminen S (2000) Probiotics in the management of atopic eczema. Clin Exp Allergy 30:1604–1610

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Perdigon G, Alvarez S, Rachid M, Aguro G, Gobbato N (1995) Immune system stimulation by probiotics. J Dairy Sci 78:1597–1606

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Wollowski I, Rechkemmer G, Pool-Zobel BL (2001) Protective role of probiotics and probiotics in colon cancer. Am J Clin Nutr 73:451–455

    Google Scholar 

  24. Collins JK, O’Sullivan G, Shanahan F (1996) In gut flora and health-past, present and future. In: Leads RA, Rowland IR (eds) International congress and symposium, series no. 219. Royal Society of Medicine Press, London, pp 13–18

    Google Scholar 

  25. Blum S, Delneste Y, Alvarez S, Haller D, Perez PF, Bode CH, Hammes WP, Pfeifer AMA, Schiffrin EJ (1999) Interaction between commensal bacteria and mucosal immunocompetent cells. Int Dairy J 9:63–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Helena TH, Reneta T, Toma H, Ludimila TK, Lodinova Raja (2004) Commensal bacteria (normal microflora), mucosal immunity and crinic inflammatory and autoimmuno disease. Immunol Lett 93:97–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Brassart D, Schiffrin E (1997) The use of probiotics to reinforce mucosal defence mechanisms. Trends Food Sci Technol 8:321–326

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Maassen CBM (1999) A rapid and safe plasmid isolation method for efficient engineering of recombinant lactobacilli expressing immunogenic or tolerogenic epitopes for oral administration. Immunol Methods 223:131–136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Perdigon G, de Macias MEN, Alvarez S, Oliver G, de Ruiz-Holgado AP (1986) Lactobacilli administered orally induce release of enzymes from peritoneal macrophages in mice. Milchwissenschaft 41(6):344–348

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Perdigon G, Alvarez S (1992) Probiotics and the immune state. In: Fuller R (ed) Probiotics. Chapman and Hall, London, pp 146–176

    Google Scholar 

  31. Balasubramanya NN, Lokesh BR, Ramesh HP, Krishnakantha TP (1995) Effect of lactic microbes on superoxide anion generating ability of peritoneal macrophages and tissue histopathology of murines. Indian J Dairy Sci Biosci 6:28–33

    Google Scholar 

  32. Perdigon G, de Macias MEN, Alvarez S, Oliver G, De Ruiz Holgado AP (1986) Effect of perorally administered lactobacilli on macrophage activation in mice. Infect Immun 53:404–410

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Singh R (2001) Immunomodulatory properties of cultured milk. M.Sc. Thesis, National Dairy Research Institute (Deemed University), Karnal, India

  34. Kapila S (2004) Studies on biodefensive properties of lactobacilli for their application as probiotics. PhD. Thesis, NDRI (Deemed University), Karnal, India

  35. Rajpal S, Kansal VK (2009) Probiotic Dahi containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum stimulates immune system in mice. Milchwissenschaft (Germany) 64(2):147–150

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Ezendam J, van Loveren H (2006) Probiotics: immunomodulation and evaluation of safety and efficacy. Nutr Rev 64:1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Shaternikov VA, Kuvaeva ID, Ladodo KS, Orlova NG, Veselova OL (1982) General and local humoral immunity and intestinal microflora in children with skin manifestations of food allergy. Vopr Pitan Sep–Oct:51–56

  38. Loskutova IE (1985) Effectiveness of using maliutka and malysh adapted propionic acidophilus mixtures in the combined treatment of congenital hypotrophy. Vopr Pitan May–Jun(3):17–20

  39. Trapp CL, Chang CC, Halpern GM, Keen CL, Gerschwin ME (1993) The influence of chronic yoghurt consumption on population of young and elderly adults. Int J Immunother 9:53–64

    Google Scholar 

  40. Isolauri E, Majamaa H, Arvola T, Rantala I, Virtanen E, Arvilommi H (1993) Lactobacillus casei strain GG reverses increased intestinal permeability induced by cow milk in suckling rats. Gastroenterology 105:1643–1650

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Sutas Y, Hurme M, Isolauri E (1996) Down regulation of anti-CD3 antibody-induced IL-4 production by bovine caseins hydrolysed with Lactobacillus GG-derived enzymes. Scand J Immunol 43:687–689

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Su È, Tas Y, Soppi E, Korhonen H (1996) Suppression of lymphocyte proliferation in vitro by bovine caseins hydrolyzed with Lactobacillus casei GG-derived enzymes. J Allergy Clin Immunol 98:216–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Salminen S, Bouley C, Boutron-Ruault MC (1998) Functional food science and gastrointestinal physiology and function. Br J Nutr 80:S147–S171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Ouwehand AC, Kirjavainen PV, Shortt C, Salminen S (1999) Probiotics: mechanisms and established effects. Int Dairy J 9:43–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Madara JL (1997) The chameleon within: improving antigen delivery. Science 277:910–911

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. De Simone C, Ciardi A, Grassi A et al (1992) Effect of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus on gut mucosa and peripheral blood B lymphocytes. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 14:331–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Miettinen M, Vuopio-Varkkila J, Varkkila K (1996) Production of human tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 is induced by lactic acid bacteria. Infect Immun 64:5403–5404

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Matsuzaki T, Yamazaki R, Hashimoto S, Yokokura T (1998) The effect of oral feeding of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota on immunoglobulin E production in mice. J Dairy Sci 81:48–53

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Shida K, Makino K, Morishita A (1998) Lactobacillus casei inhibits antigen-induced IgE secretion through regulation of cytokine production in murine splenocyte cultures. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 115:278–287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Nowak-Wegrzyn A, Sampson HA (2004) Food allergy therapy. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 24(4):705–725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Gascan H, Gauchat JF, Roncarolo MG, Yssel H, Spits H, de Vries JE (1991) Human B cell clones can be induced to proliferate and to switch to IgE and IgG4 synthesis by IL-4 and a signal provided by activated CD4+ T cell clones. J Exp Med 173:747–750

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Matsuzaki T, Chin J (2000) Modulating immune response with probiotic bacteria. Immunol Cell Biol 78:67–73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Arvilommi H, Kero P, Koskinen P, Isolauri E (2001) Probiotics in primary prevention of atopic disease: a randomized placebo controlled trail. Lancet 357:1076–1079

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Kirjavainen PV, Arvola T, Salminen SJ, Isolauri E (2002) Aberrant composition of gut microbiota of allergic infants: a targets of bifidobacterial therapy at weaning? Gut 51(1):51–55

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Aldinucci C, Bellussi L, Monciatti G, Passali GC, Salerni L, Passali D et al (2002) Effects of dietary yoghurt on immunological and clinical parameters of rhinopathic patients. Eur J Clin Nutr 56(12):1155–1161

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Lodinova-Zadnikova R, Cukrowska B, Tlaskalova-Hogenova H (2003) Oral administration of probiotic Escherichia coli after birth reduces frequency of allergy and repeated infections later in life (after 10 and 20 years). Int Arch Allergy Immunol 131(3):209–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Pohjavuori E, Viljanen M, Korpela R, Kuitunen M, Tuttanen M, Vaarala O et al (2004) Lactobacillus GG effect in increasing IFN-γ production in infants with cow’s milk allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 114(1):131–136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Kimoto H, Mizumachi K, Okamoto T, Kurisaki J (2004) New lactococcus strain with immunomodulatory activity: enhancement of Th1 type immune response. Microbiol Immunol 48(2):75–82

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Ohno H, Tsunemine S, Isa Y, Shimakawa M, Yamamura H (2006) Oral administration of Bifidobacterium bifidum G9–1 supresses total and antigen specific immunoglobulin E production in mice. Biol Pharm Bull 28(8):1462–1466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Sashihara T, Sueki N, Ikegami S (2006) An analysis of the effectiveness of heat killed lactic acid bacteria in alleviating allergic diseases. J Dairy Sci 89:2846–2855

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Morita HF, Kawase M, Kubota A, Hiramatsu M, Kurisaki J, Salminen S (2006) Preliminary human study for possible alteration of serum immunoglobulin E production in perennial allergic rhinitis with fermented milk prepared with Lactobacillus gasseri TMC0356. Microbiol Immunol 50(9):701–706

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Collins JK, Thornton G, O’Sullivan G (1998) Selection of probiotic strains for human applications. Int Dairy J 8:487–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Pelto L, Salminen S, Lilius EM, Isolauri E (1998) Milk hypersensitivity-key to poorly defined gastrointestinal symptoms in adults. Allergy 53:307–310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Biochemistry, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India

    Umesh Kr. Shandilya, Sagar Jadhav, Vandana Panwar & V. K. Kansal

Authors
  1. Umesh Kr. Shandilya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sagar Jadhav
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Vandana Panwar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. V. K. Kansal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Umesh Kr. Shandilya.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shandilya, U.K., Jadhav, S., Panwar, V. et al. Probiotics: Potent Immunomodulatory Tool Against Allergy. Probiotics & Antimicro. Prot. 3, 151–158 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-011-9077-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-011-9077-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation