Evaluation of a Streptococcus thermophilus strain with innate anti-inflammatory properties as a vehicle for IL-10 cDNA delivery in an acute colitis model

S. DEL CARMEN; A. MIYOSHI; V. AZEVEDO; A. DE MORENO DE LEBLANC; J.G. LEBLANC

CYTOKINE.

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015 vol. 73 p. 177 - 183

1043-4666

The aim of this work was to develop a Streptococcus (S.) thermophilus strain with improved  anti-inflammatory properties due to the incorporation of the therapeutic cDNA delivery plasmid pValac::il-10. To achieve this purpose, cells of S. thermophilus CRL807, previously selected as being an important anti-inflammatory strain, were electroporated with  pValac::il-10 plasmid. In order to confirm the functionality of the developed strain, it  was co-cultured with human epithelial cells Caco-2 and the production of IL-10 was evaluated by ELISA. Bacterial suspensions of S. thermophilus CRL807 containing pValac::il-10 plasmid or of the wild-type (WT) strain were administered in vivo using a  murine model of intestinal inflammation. The animals treated with S. thermophilus CRL807  PValac::il-10 showed a lower body weight loss, microbial translocation to liver  and damage scores in their intestines at macroscopical and microscopic levels. Furthermore,  significant increase was observed in the concentration of IL-10 in the intestinal contents of these mice compared to the rest of the experimental groups, accompanied by decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The insertion of the therapeutic pValac::il-10 plasmid increased the intrinsic anti-inflammatory activity (synergetic effect) of S. thermophilus CRL807 which could be included in novel treatment protocols for inflammatory bowel diseases.