Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 7, 2013; 19(5): 742-749
Published online Feb 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i5.742
Probiotics increase T regulatory cells and reduce severity of experimental colitis in mice
Hai-Mei Zhao, Xiao-Ying Huang, Zhi-Qin Zuo, Qi-Hong Pan, Mei-Ying Ao, Feng Zhou, Hong-Ning Liu, Zhi-Yong Liu, Duan-Yong Liu
Hai-Mei Zhao, Zhi-Qin Zuo, Qi-Hong Pan, Mei-Ying Ao, Feng Zhou, Duan-Yong Liu, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology College, Nanchang 330025, Jiangxi Province, China
Xiao-Ying Huang, Hong-Ning Liu, Zhi-Yong Liu, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
Author contributions: Zhao HM and Huang XY contributed equally to this work; Zhao HM, Huang XY, Liu HN and Liu DY designed the research; Zhao HM, Huang XY, Zuo ZQ, Pan QH, Ao MY, Zhou F and Liu ZY performed the research; Liu HN and Liu DY contributed to the new reagents and analytic tools; Zhao HM, Huang XY and Liu DY analyzed the data; Zhao HM and Liu DY wrote the paper.
Supported by The Project of Science and Technology Project from Department of Education of Jiangxi Province, No. GJJ1056
Correspondence to: Duan-Yong Liu, Associate Professor, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology College, 666 Fusheng Road, Nanchang 330025, Jiangxi Provence, China. liuduanyong@163.com
Telephone: +86-791-86526385 Fax: +86-791-86588664
Received: August 21, 2012
Revised: December 13, 2012
Accepted: December 25, 2012
Published online: February 7, 2013
Processing time: 168 Days and 19.3 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of probiotics on regulating T regulatory cells and reducing the severity of experimental colitis in mice.

METHODS: Forty C57/BL mice were randomly divided into four groups. Colitis was induced in the mice using 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). After 10-d treatment with Bifico capsules (combined bifidobacterium, lactobacillus and enterococcus), body weight, colonic weight, colonic weight index, length of colon, and histological scores were evaluated. CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cell in mesenteric lymph nodes were measured by flow cytometry, and cytokines in colonic tissue homogenates were analyzed by a cytometric bead array.

RESULTS: The colonic weight index and the colonic weight of colitis mice treated with Bifico were lower than that of TNBS-induced mice without treatment. However, colonic length and percent of body weight amplification were higher than in TNBS-induced mice without treatment. Compared with TNBS-induced mice without treatment, the level of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells in mesenteric lymph nodes, the expression of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 and IL-10 in colonic tissues from colitis mice treated with Bifico were upregulated, and tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ were downregulated.

CONCLUSION: Probiotics effectively treat experimental colitis by increasing CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cell and regulating the balance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the colonic mucosa.

Keywords: Probiotics; Ulcerative colitis; CD4+CD25+T cell; Cytokine