Lactobacilli as natural enhancer of cellular immune response

Extract: Dendritic cells (DCs), widely distributed in lymphoid (containing lymphocytes) and non-lymphoid tissue, are a complex, heterogeneous group of multifunctional antigen-presenting cells that comprise an essential component of the immune system. For well over a decade, dendritic cells have been recognized as an essential component of both the host innate and adaptive immune responses. DCs, due to their differential regulation and initiation of acquired immune responses, are at the forefront of current research in immunobiology and vaccinology. Recent reports suggest that certain types of antigens (a substance capable of inducing an immune response) differentially govern DC activation and maturation, which ultimately influence the entire immune response. Various species of Lactobacillus (a bacterium found ubiquitously in the mouth, intestinal tract, and vagina) have been shown to differentially regulate dendritic cells and enhance their ability to prime specific immune responses and, thus, they may have great utility as future vaccine adjuvants.