Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 5, 2025
Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
Serum cytokine patterns are modulated in infants fed formula with probiotics or milk fat globule membranes: A
Xiaonan Li1, Yongmei Peng2, Zailing Li3
1Department of Child Health Care, Childrens Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Insights
Supplementing infant formula with Lactobacillus paracasei strain F19 (F19) or milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) did not alter vaccine responses. However, MFGM supplementation in formula created a cytokine profile similar to breastfed infants.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and probiotics possess immunomodulatory properties.
- Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei strain F19 (F19) was hypothesized to enhance vaccine antibody and T helper 1 immune responses.
- MFGM was expected to elicit immune responses similar to those observed in breastfed (BF) infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of F19 and bovine MFGM supplementation in infant formula.
- To evaluate serum cytokine and vaccine responses in formula-fed (FF) and BF infants.
Main Methods:
- Formula-fed infants were randomized into three groups: F19, MFGM, or standard formula (SF).
- A breastfed (BF) group served as a reference.
- Serum cytokines and vaccine-specific antibody concentrations (anti-diphtheria IgG, anti-poliovirus IgG) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- The F19 group showed increased IL-2 and decreased IFN-γ compared to SF.
- The MFGM group exhibited cytokine concentrations comparable to BF infants.
- Vaccine responses were similar across all formula groups.
Conclusions:
- F19 supplementation altered cytokine production, contrary to prior expectations, indicating population-specific probiotic responses.
- MFGM supplementation resulted in a cytokine profile resembling that of BF infants.
- These findings support further clinical evaluation of F19 and MFGM in infant formula.
Background:
Proteins and lipids of milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and probiotics are immunomodulatory. We hypothesized that Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei strain F19 (F19) would augment vaccine antibody and T helper 1 type immune responses whereas MFGM would produce an immune response closer to that of breastfed (BF) infants.
Objective:
To compare the effects of supplementing formula with F19 or bovine MFGM on serum cytokine and vaccine responses of formula-fed (FF) and BF infants.
Design:
FF infants were randomized to formula with F19 (n = 195) or MFGM (n = 192), or standard formula (SF) (n = 194) from age 21±7 days until 4 months. A BF group served as reference (n = 208). We analyzed seven cytokines (n = 398) in serum at age 4 months using magnetic bead-based multiplex technology. Using ELISA, we analyzed anti-diphtheria IgG (n = 258) and anti-poliovirus IgG (n = 309) concentrations in serum before and after the second and third immunization, respectively.
Results:
Compared with SF, the F19 group had greater IL-2 and lower IFN-γ concentrations (p<0.05, average effect size 0.14 and 0.39). Compared with BF, the F19 group had greater IL-2, IL-4 and IL-17A concentrations (p<0.05, average effect size 0.42, 0.34 and 0.26, respectively). The MFGM group had lower IL-2 and IL-17A concentrations compared with SF (p<0.05, average effect size 0.34 and 0.31). Cytokine concentrations were comparable among the MFGM and BF groups. Vaccine responses were comparable among the formula groups.
Conclusions:
Contrary to previous studies F19 increased IL-2 and lowered IFN-γ production, suggesting that the response to probiotics differs across populations. The cytokine profile of the MFGM group approached that of BF infants, and may be associated with the previous finding that infectious outcomes for the MFGM group in this cohort were closer to those of BF infants, as opposed to the SF group. These immunomodulatory effects support future clinical evaluation of infant formula with F19 or MFGM.
