Lactic acid bacteria as immunomodulators of the gut associated immune system

C. MALDONADO GALDEANO; A. DE MORENO DE LEBLANC; C.A. DOGI; G. PERDIGON

Biotecnology of lactic acid bacteria: Novel applications

Wiley- Blackwell

Año: 2010; p. 125 - 140

Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells coexist in the intestinal environment. Among the eukaryotic cells, besides the epithelial cells, the immune cells are organized forming the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). The intestinal immune cells are in contact with antigens from the external environment, the intestinal microbiota and the antigen’s diet being the main antigen’s stimuli. The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the development of host’s innate and adaptive immune responses and in oral tolerance mechanisms. Regulation of the composition of the gut microbiota, for example, by the use of prebiotics and probiotics, offers the possibility of influencing the development of mucosal and systemic immunity. The use of probiotics in the prevention or treatment of intestinal infections and the mechanisms by which these microorganisms affect the immune system allow the determination of the specific pathologies probiotic bacteria could be useful to ameliorate diseases.