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Effects of Bifidobacterium breve on inflammatory gene expression in neonatal and weaning rat intestine
Yoshikazu Ohtsuka1, Takako Ikegami, Hirohisa Izumi
1Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. yohtsuka@juntendo.ac.jp
Insights
Probiotics like Bifidobacterium breve M-16V modulate inflammatory gene expression in infant rats. This study shows B. breve reduces inflammation in newborns and influences immune responses during weaning.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Probiotics may influence infant immune system development.
- Early life immune modulation is crucial for long-term health.
- Bifidobacterium breve M-16V is a specific probiotic strain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immune-modulatory effects of Bifidobacterium breve M-16V (B. breve) in early infancy.
- To examine the impact of B. breve administration during newborn and weaning periods on inflammatory gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Administration of B. breve (5 × 10(8) cfu/day) to F344/Du rat pups during the newborn (days 1-14) and weaning (days 21-34) periods.
- Analysis of gene expression in intestinal tissues using cDNA microarray and real-time PCR.
- Quantification of Bifidobacterium in the cecum and colon.
Main Results:
- B. breve administration increased Bifidobacterium populations in the cecum and colon during the newborn period.
- Gene expression changes were more pronounced in the colon and during the weaning period.
- Significant reduction in inflammation-related genes (Lpl, Gpx2, Lbp) observed in the colon during the newborn period.
- Enhanced expression of CD3d in the colon during the weaning period, without enhancing co-stimulatory molecules.
Conclusions:
- B. breve may play a role in anti-inflammatory and antiallergic reactions.
- Modulation of inflammatory molecules during the newborn period contributes to these effects.
- Regulation of co-stimulatory molecules during the weaning period also impacts immune responses.
Introduction:
To examine the immune-modulatory effects of probiotics during early infancy, Bifidobacterium breve M-16V (B. breve) was administered to rat pups during the newborn or weaning period, and the expression of inflammatory genes was investigated using a cDNA microarray and real-time PCR.
Results:
After B. breve administration, significant increases in the numbers of Bifidobacterium in both the cecum and colon were confirmed during the newborn period. The numbers of upregulated and downregulated genes were greater during the weaning period than in the newborn period and were greatest in the colon, with fewer genes altered in the small intestine and the fewest in the spleen. The expression of inflammation-related genes, including lipoprotein lipase (Lpl), glutathione peroxidase 2 (Gpx2), and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (Lbp), was significantly reduced in the colon during the newborn period. In weaning rat pups, the expression of CD3d, a cell surface receptor-linked signaling molecule, was significantly enhanced in the colon; however, the expression of co-stimulatory molecules was not enhanced.
Discussion:
Our findings support a possible role for B. breve in mediating anti-inflammatory and antiallergic reactions by modulating the expression of inflammatory molecules during the newborn period and by regulating the expression of co-stimulatory molecules during the weaning period.
Methods:
Gene expression in the intestine was investigated after feeding 5 × 10(8) cfu of B. breve every day to the F344/Du rat from days 1 to 14 (newborn group) and from days 21 to 34 (weaning group). mRNA was extracted from intestine, and the expression of inflammatory gene was analyzed by microarray and real-time PCR.
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