Brief Article
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 7, 2010; 16(17): 2134-2145
Published online May 7, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i17.2134
Probiotic yeasts: Anti-inflammatory potential of various non-pathogenic strains in experimental colitis in mice
Benoît Foligné, Joëlle Dewulf, Pascal Vandekerckove, Georges Pignède, Bruno Pot
Benoît Foligné, Joëlle Dewulf, Bruno Pot, Institut Pasteur of Lille, Lactic acid Bacteria & Mucosal Immunity, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, 1 rue du Pr Calmette, BP 245, F-59019 Lille, France; University of Lille Nord de France, F-59000 Lille, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8204, F-59021 Lille, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1019, F-59019 Lille, France
Pascal Vandekerckove, Georges Pignède, Lesaffre International, Direction of Research and Developpement, 147 rue Gabriel Péri, BP 6027, 59700 Marcq-en-Baroeul, France
Author contributions: Foligné B and Dewulf J performed the research; Foligné B, Vandekerckove P and Pignède G designed the research and provided support; Pot B coordinated the research, provided critical reading and revised the manuscript; Foligné B analyzed the results and wrote the paper.
Supported by Lesaffre group
Correspondence to: Benoît Foligné, PhD, Institut Pasteur of Lille, Lactic acid Bacteria & Mucosal Immunity, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, 1 rue du Pr Calmette, BP 245, F-59019 Lille, France. benoit.foligne@ibl.fr
Telephone: +33-320-871192 Fax: +33-320-871192
Received: December 4, 2009
Revised: January 5, 2010
Accepted: January 12, 2010
Published online: May 7, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the in vitro immunomodulation capacity of various non-pathogenic yeast strains and to investigate the ability of some of these food grade yeasts to prevent experimental colitis in mice.

METHODS: In vitro immunomodulation was assessed by measuring cytokines [interleukin (IL)-12p70, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor and interferon γ] released by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells after 24 h stimulation with 6 live yeast strains (Saccharomyces ssp.) and with bacterial reference strains. A murine model of acute 2-4-6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-colitis was next used to evaluate the distinct prophylactic protective capacities of three yeast strains compared with the performance of prednisolone treatment.

RESULTS: The six yeast strains all showed similar non-discriminating anti-inflammatory potential when tested on immunocompetent cells in vitro. However, although they exhibited similar colonization patterns in vivo, some yeast strains showed significant anti-inflammatory activities in the TNBS-induced colitis model, whereas others had weaker or no preventive effect at all, as evidenced by colitis markers (body-weight loss, macroscopic and histological scores, myeloperoxidase activities and blood inflammatory markers).

CONCLUSION: A careful selection of strains is required among the biodiversity of yeasts for specific clinical studies, including applications in inflammatory bowel disease and other therapeutic uses.

Keywords: Yeast; Probiotics; Strain specificity; Experimental colitis; 2-4-6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid