Probiotic Lactobacilli Isolated from Kefir Promote Down-Regulation of Inflammatory Lamina Propria T Cells from Patients with Active IBD

CURCIARELLO R; CANZIANI K; SALTO I; ROMERO BARBIERA E; ROCCA A; DOLDAN I; PETON E; BRAYER S; SAMBUELLI AM; GONCALVES S; TIRADO P; CORREA GJ; YANTORNO M; GARBI L; DOCENA GH; SERRADELL MA; MUGLIA CI

Frontiers in Pharmacology

Frontiers Media S.A.

Año: 2021

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn?s disease, the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD), are immunologically mediated disorders. Several therapies are focused on activatedT cells as key targets. Although Lactobacillus kefiri has shown anti-inflammatory effects inanimal models, few studies were done using human mucosal T cells. The aim of this workwas to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of this bacterium on intestinal T cells frompatients with active IBD. Mucosal biopsies and surgical samples from IBD adult patients(n 19) or healthy donors (HC; n 5) were used. Lamina propria mononuclear cells wereisolated by enzymatic tissue digestion, and entero-adhesive Escherichia coli-specificlamina propria T cells (LPTC) were expanded. The immunomodulatory properties of L.kefiri CIDCA 8348 strain were evaluated on biopsies and on anti-CD3/CD28-activatedLPTC. Secreted cytokines were quantified by ELISA, and cell proliferation and viability wereassessed by flow cytometry. We found that L. kefiri reduced spontaneous release of IL-6and IL-8 from inflamed biopsies ex vivo. Activated LPTC from IBD patients showed lowproliferative rates and reduced secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ and IL-13 in the presence ofL. kefiri. In addition, L. kefiri induced an increased frequency of CD4+FOXP3+ LPTC alongwith high levels of IL-10. This is the first report showing an immunomodulatory effect of L.kefiri CIDCA 8348 on human intestinal cells from IBD patients. Understanding themechanisms of interaction between probiotics and immune mucosal cells may opennew avenues for treatment and prevention of IBD.