INVESTIGADORES
VINDEROLA Celso Gabriel
artículos
Título:
Immunomodulating capacity of kefir.
Autor/es:
C.G. VINDEROLA; J. DUARTE; D. THANGAVEL; G. PERDIGON; E. FARNWORTH; C. MATAR
Revista:
Journal of Dairy Research
Editorial:
Cambridge University Press
Referencias:
Lugar: Londres; Año: 2005 vol. 72 p. 195 - 202
ISSN:
0022-0299
Resumen:
Kefir is a fermented milk produced by the action of lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and acetic acid
bacteria, trapped in a complex matrix of polysaccharides and proteins. Beyond its inherent high
nutritional value as a source of proteins and calcium, kefir has a long tradition of being regarded
as good for health in countries where it is a staple in the diet. However, published human or
animal feeding trials to substantiate this view are not numerous. The aim of this work was to
determine the immunomodulating capacity of kefir on the intestinal mucosal immune response
in mice and to demonstrate the importance of dose and cell viability on this response. BALB/c
mice were fed with commercial kefir ad libitum (diluted 1/10, 1/50, 1/100 or 1/200) or pasteurized
kefir (diluted 1/6, 1/10, 1/50, 1/100) for 2, 5 or 7 consecutive days. At the end of each
feeding period, the bacterial translocation assay was performed in the liver. Small intestine structure
was studied by haematoxilin-eosin staining and light microscopy. The number of IgA+ and
IgG+ cells was also determined. For the functional doses chosen, cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-
10, IL-12, TNF-a and IFN-c) were determined. Kefir and pasteurized kefir were able to modulate
the mucosal immune system in a dose-dependent manner. Kefir was administred 10-times more
diluted than pasteurized kefir, but it induced an immunomodulation of similar magnitude,
indicating the importance of cell viabilty. The results suggest that a Th1 response was controlled
by Th2 cytokines induced by kefir feeding. Pasteurized kefir would induce both Th2 and
Th1 responses. This is the first study in vivo regarding the mechanisms involved in the
immunomodulating capacity of the oral administration of kefir containing viable or heatinactivated
bacteria at different doses.ad libitum (diluted 1/10, 1/50, 1/100 or 1/200) or pasteurized
kefir (diluted 1/6, 1/10, 1/50, 1/100) for 2, 5 or 7 consecutive days. At the end of each
feeding period, the bacterial translocation assay was performed in the liver. Small intestine structure
was studied by haematoxilin-eosin staining and light microscopy. The number of IgA+ and
IgG+ cells was also determined. For the functional doses chosen, cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-
10, IL-12, TNF-a and IFN-c) were determined. Kefir and pasteurized kefir were able to modulate
the mucosal immune system in a dose-dependent manner. Kefir was administred 10-times more
diluted than pasteurized kefir, but it induced an immunomodulation of similar magnitude,
indicating the importance of cell viabilty. The results suggest that a Th1 response was controlled
by Th2 cytokines induced by kefir feeding. Pasteurized kefir would induce both Th2 and
Th1 responses. This is the first study in vivo regarding the mechanisms involved in the
immunomodulating capacity of the oral administration of kefir containing viable or heatinactivated
bacteria at different doses.a and IFN-c) were determined. Kefir and pasteurized kefir were able to modulate
the mucosal immune system in a dose-dependent manner. Kefir was administred 10-times more
diluted than pasteurized kefir, but it induced an immunomodulation of similar magnitude,
indicating the importance of cell viabilty. The results suggest that a Th1 response was controlled
by Th2 cytokines induced by kefir feeding. Pasteurized kefir would induce both Th2 and
Th1 responses. This is the first study in vivo regarding the mechanisms involved in the
immunomodulating capacity of the oral administration of kefir containing viable or heatinactivated
bacteria at different doses.in vivo regarding the mechanisms involved in the
immunomodulating capacity of the oral administration of kefir containing viable or heatinactivated
bacteria at different doses.