Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 modulates host inflammatory processes beyond the gut

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Microbiology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Therapeutic microbes like Bifidobacteria infantis (B. infantis) 35624 can modulate immune responses.
• The systemic effects of B. infantis 35624 on non-gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of oral B. infantis 35624 on inflammatory biomarkers and cytokines in patients with ulcerative colitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and psoriasis.
• To evaluate the effect of B. infantis 35624 on immunological biomarkers in healthy subjects.

Main Methods:

• Three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials involving patients with ulcerative colitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and psoriasis.
• Assessment of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels.
• Evaluation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cytokine secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in healthy subjects.

Main Results:

• B. infantis 35624 reduced plasma CRP levels in all three inflammatory conditions.
• Plasma TNF-α was reduced in chronic fatigue syndrome and psoriasis patients.
• IL-6 was reduced in ulcerative colitis and chronic fatigue syndrome patients.
• In healthy subjects, B. infantis 35624 reduced LPS-stimulated TNF-α and IL-6 secretion by PBMCs.

Conclusions:

• B. infantis 35624 demonstrates systemic immunomodulatory effects, reducing pro-inflammatory biomarkers in both gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions.
• The immunomodulatory capacity of the microbiota extends beyond the mucosal immune system to the systemic immune system.