Anti-inflammatory properties of probiotic bacteria on Salmonella-induced IL-8 synthesis in enterocyte-like Caco-2

J J Malago1, P C J Tooten, J F J G Koninkx

  • 1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania.

Beneficial Microbes
|August 16, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Certain probiotics, like Bifidobacterium infantis W52, can transiently suppress Salmonella-induced IL-8 (interleukin-8) production in gut cells. This protective effect is linked to increased Hsp70 expression and is most effective against low pathogen loads.

Area of Science:

  • Gut Microbiome Research
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Pathogenic Salmonella invades the gut, triggering IL-8 (interleukin-8) production, which causes inflammation and tissue damage.
  • Persistent IL-8 production contributes to gut tissue damage, making IL-8 suppression a therapeutic target.
  • Probiotics are investigated for their potential to modulate gut inflammation by inhibiting IL-8 synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypothesis that probiotics can reduce gut inflammation by inhibiting IL-8 synthesis.
  • To determine if specific probiotic strains can suppress Salmonella-induced IL-8 production in Caco-2 cells.
  • To explore the role of Heat Shock Protein 70 (Hsp70) in mediating probiotic effects on IL-8 synthesis.

Main Methods:

  • Caco-2 cells were infected with various probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium infantis W52, Lactobacillus casei W56, Lactococcus lactis W58, etc.) and Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis.
  • Cells were exposed to probiotics and Salmonella in co-incubation or pre-incubation models, followed by recovery periods of 2 or 24 hours.
  • Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and Heat Shock Protein 70 (Hsp70) levels were quantified using ELISA and Western blot, respectively.

Main Results:

  • Both probiotics and Salmonella induced dose- and time-dependent IL-8 synthesis, with Salmonella inducing significantly higher levels.
  • B. infantis W52, L. casei W56, and L. lactis W58 significantly suppressed Salmonella-induced IL-8 at low pathogen loads (0.2-20 cells/Caco-2 cell) within 2 hours.
  • These three probiotic strains also significantly increased Hsp70 expression, while other tested probiotics showed weaker Hsp70 induction and failed to suppress IL-8.
  • The observed IL-8 suppression by probiotics was transient, diminishing after a few hours.

Conclusions:

  • Probiotic-mediated suppression of Salmonella-induced IL-8 synthesis in Caco-2 cells is strain-specific and linked to Hsp70 expression.
  • Specific probiotics (B. infantis W52, L. casei W56, L. lactis W58) may protect against Salmonella-induced gut inflammation partly through Hsp70 induction.
  • The protective effect is limited to low numbers of infecting Salmonella and is transient.

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