Growth and exopolysaccharide production during free and immobilized cell chemostat culture of Lactobacillus rhamnosus RW-9595M

AIMS: Biomass and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production were studied during chemostat cultures in whey permeate medium with Lactobacillus rhamnosus RW-9595M-free cells and cells immobilized on solid porous supports (ImmobaSil). METHODS AND RESULTS: A continuous culture with free cells was conducted for 9 days at dilution rates (D) between 0.3 and 0.8 h(-1) in yeast extract (YE)/mineral supplemented whey permeate. Maximum EPS production (1808 mg l(-1)) and volumetric productivity (542.6 mg l(-1) h(-1)) were obtained for a low D of 0.3 h(-1). A continuous fermentation in a two-stage bioreactor system, composed of a first stage with immobilized cells and a second stage inoculated with free cells produced in the first reactor, was carried out for 32 days. The influence of YE concentration, temperature and dilution rate, and their interactions on biomass, EPS and lactic acid production was investigated. A statistically significant model was found only for lactic acid production. Marked cell morphological and physiological changes led to the formation of very large cell-containing aggregates and a low mean soluble EPS production (138 mg l(-1)). Aggregate volumetric productivity of the two-stage system varied between 5.7 and 49.5 g l(-1) h(-1) for different fermentation conditions and times. Aggregates contained a very high biomass concentration, estimated at 74% of aggregate dry weight by nitrogen analysis and 4.3 x 10(12) CFU g(-1) by a DNA extraction method and a high nonsoluble polysaccharide content (14.2%). At age 24 days, insoluble EPS concentration and volumetric productivity were 1250 mg l(-1) and 2240 mg l(-1) h(-1) respectively. The physiological changes were shown to be reversible when cells were incubated during three successive batch cultures. CONCLUSIONS: EPS production and volumetric productivity during continuous free-cell chemostat cultures with L. rhamnosus RW-9595M are among the highest values reported for lactobacilli in literature. Immobilization and continuous culture resulted in low soluble EPS production and large morphological and physiological changes of L. rhamnosus RW-9595M, with formation of macroscopical aggregates mainly composed of biomass and nonsoluble EPS. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first study on continuous EPS production by immobilized LAB. Immobilization and culture time-induced cell aggregation and could be used to produce new synbiotic products with very high viable cell and EPS concentrations.     

Exopolysaccharide production by free and immobilized microbial cultures

The batch production of different exopolysaccharides (alginate, xanthan, pullulan, dextran) by free and immobilized microbial cultures was investigated. First, conventional free-cell cultures were performed to obtain control fermentation parameters and macromolecular characteristics of exopolysaccharides. Then microbial cultures were immobilized in composite agar layer/microporous membrane structures and tested for polysaccharide production. The immobilized-cell system proved unsuitable for xanthan and pullulan production. Owing to the fouling of the microporous membrane by the polysaccharide, dextran production by immobilized Leuconostoc mesenteroides also was inefficient. More promising results have been obtained with immobilized Azotobacter vinelandii cultures. The amount of alginate produced by immobilized A. vinelandii represented about 60% of that recovered from a free-cell culture, whereas the polysaccharide yield reached 35% instead of 9% for the free counterpart. These results are compared to the macromolecular characteristics of exopolysaccharides.     

Lactic acid production from whey permeate by immobilized Lactobacillus casei

Two matrices have been assessed for their ability to immobilize Lactobacillus casei cells for lactic acid fermentation in whey permeate medium. Agar at 2% concentration was found to be a better gel than polyacrylamide in its effectiveness to entrap the bacterial cells to carry out batch fermentation up to three repeat runs. Of the various physiological parameters studied, temperature and pH were observed to have no significant influence on the fermentation ability of the immobilized organism. A temperature range of 40–50°C and a pH range of 4.5–6.0 rather than specific values, were found to be optimum when fermentation was carried out under stationary conditions. In batch fermentation ～90% conversion of the substrate (lactose) was achieved in 48 h using immobilized cell gel cubes of 4 × 2 × 2 mm size, containing 400 mg dry bacterial cells per flask and 4.5% w/v (initial) whey lactose content as substrate. However, further increase in substrate levels tested (>4.5% w/v) did not improve the process efficiency. Supplementation of Mg²⁺ (1 mM) and agricultural by-products (mustard oil cake, 6%) in the whey permeate medium further improved the acid production ability of the immobilized cells under study.     

Growth and lactic acid production in batch culture of Lactobacillus rhamnosus in a defined medium

To facilitate metabolic analysis, batch fermentations of Lactobacillus rhamnosus were carried out in a new defined medium. Biomass at 10.5 g/l and lactic acid at 67 g/l with a YP/S of 0.84 were achieved. The maximum specific growth rate and the average productivity were 0.49/h and 2.48 g/l.h, respectively. These are comparable to those of this organism and related organisms in complex media. Preliminary amino acid studies were also conducted, highlighting the importance of serine, asparagine, glutamine and cysteine. Kinetic analysis revealed that lactic acid production was predominantly growth-associated with growth associated and non-growth associated lactic acid constants of 0.389 mol/g-cell and 0.0025 mol/g-cell.h, respectively. Finally a kinetic model has been included to describe the fermentation of L. rhamnosus.     

Combined effects of temperature and medium composition on exopolysaccharide production by Lactobacillus rhamnosus RW-9595M in a whey permeate based medium

The effects of temperature (22-42 degrees C), whey permeate concentration (WP, 1.6-8.4%), and supplementation level with yeast nitrogen base (YNB, 0-2.0%) on exopolysaccharide (EPS) production was studied during 20 pH-controlled (pH = 6.0) batch cultures with Lactobacillus rhamnosus RW-9595M, using a central composite design (CCD). The EPS production was measured using both the conventional method based on ethanol precipitation of EPS and a new ultrafiltration (UF) method. EPS production was not growth-associated for high temperatures (32-42 degrees C) and WP concentrations (7.0-8.4%). In contrast, at suboptimal temperature (22-26 degrees C), EPS production was growth-associated. Maximal EPS production measured with the UF method was approximately 2-fold higher than those measured with the conventional method and varied from 125 to 477 mg/L. This parameter was significantly influenced by WP and YNBWP interaction, whereas ANOVA for maximal EPS production measured by the conventional method did not show significant factor effects. EPS volumetric productivities varied from 3.0 to 16.4 mg EPS/L small middle doth. YNB supplementation did not promote cell growth but did increase EPS production at high WP concentrations. Our data indicate the potential of L. rhamnosus RW-9595M for producing EPS in a supplemented WP medium and suggest that this production could be further increased by the addition of a growth-limiting nutrient in the medium.     

Ethanol production from whey permeate by immobilized yeast cells

The ability of two yeast strains to utilize the lactose in whey permeate has been studied. Kluyveromyces marxianus NCYC 179 completely utilized the lactose (9.8%), whereas Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC 240 displayed an inability to metabolize whey lactose for ethanol production. Of the two gel matrices tested for immobilizing K. marxianus NCYC 179 cells, sodium alginate at 2% (w/v) concentration proved to be the optimum gel for entrapping the yeast cells effectively. The data on optimization of physiological conditions of fermentation (temperature, pH, ethanol concentration and substrate concentration) showed similar effects on immobilized and free cell suspensions of K. marxianus NCYC 179, in batch fermentation. A maximum yield of 42.6 g ethanol l^?1 (82% of theoretical) was obtained from 98 g lactose l^?1 when fermentation was carried at pH 5.5 and 30°C using 120 g dry weight l^?1 cell load of yeast cells. These results suggest that whey lactose can be metabolized effectively for ethanol production using immobilized K. marxianus NCYC 179 cells.     

Intermediate chains of exopolysaccharides from Lactobacillus rhamnosus RW‐9595M increase IL‐10 production by macrophages

Aims: To evaluate the immunosuppressive properties of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) from high‐EPS producer Lactobacillus rhamnosus RW‐9595M on inflammatory cytokines produced by macrophages. Methods and Results: The conditioned media (CM) were produced by macrophages treated with parental Lact. rhamnosus ATCC 9595 and its isogenic variant, the high‐EPS producer Lact. rhamnosus RW‐9595M, and the levels of TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐10 and IL‐12 were evaluated. Results revealed that CM from parental Lact. rhamnosus induced higher levels of TNF‐α, IL‐6 and IL‐12 but inhibited IL‐10 production, whereas its mucous variant induced low or no TNF‐α and IL‐6. Addition of purified EPS to macrophages treated with parental Lact. rhamnosus decreased the inflammatory cytokines and inhibited the metabolic activity of lymphocytes. The intermediate polysaccharide chains (16–30 units) produced by time‐controlled hydrolysis of EPS increased the IL‐10 produced by macrophages. Conclusions: Polysaccharide chains of EPS induced immunosuppression by the production of macrophagic anti‐inflammatory IL‐10. Significance and impact of the Study: These results indicate that the EPS from Lact. rhamnosus RW‐9595M may be useful as a new immunosuppressive product in dairy food.     

哺乳期补充鼠李糖乳杆菌在预防婴幼儿湿疹以及特应性疾病中的价值

目的 探究哺乳期补充鼠李糖乳杆菌对婴幼儿湿疹以及特应性疾病的预防作用。方法 选择2015年1月至2016年12月间于我院分娩和定期体检的哺乳期妇女及其新生儿152例,随机数表法分为对照组（76例）和实验组（76例）,对照组采用常规哺乳期婴幼儿湿疹预防策略,实验组在此基础上补充鼠李糖乳杆菌。比较两组婴儿的免疫学指标（嗜酸性粒细胞百分比,IgE和特异性IgE）水平、皮肤点刺试验（SPT）阳性率及24个月内湿疹以及特应性疾病的发病情况。结果 实验组6个月后的EOS%、IgE、sIgE均明显低于对照组（均P<0.05）;对照组和实验组的SPT阳性率分别为15.79%和5.26%,差异有统计学意义（χ2=4.471,P=0.034）。实验组婴幼儿肠道菌群中双歧杆菌、乳杆菌明显多于对照组（t=6.173,5.070,均P<0.001）,而肠球菌及肠杆菌明显少于对照组（t=5.111,5.919,均P<0.001）。对照组婴幼儿的湿疹累积发病率为38.16%（29/76）,实验组的湿疹累积发病率为25.00%（19/76）,实验组的湿疹发病率明显低于对照组（Log-rank χ2=3.949,P=0.047）。对照组和实验组婴幼儿的特应性疾病累积发病率分别为17.11%（13/76）和6.58%（5/76）,实验组的发生风险明显低于对照组（Log rank χ2=4.275,P=0.039）。结论 哺乳期补充鼠李糖乳杆菌能够有效调节肠道菌群,降低婴幼儿2岁以内的湿疹以及特应性疾病发生风险。     

鼠李糖乳杆菌菌毛SpaA亚基的表达、抗体制备及其种属特异性研究

【目的】制备鼠李糖乳杆菌菌毛亚基Spa A多克隆抗体,研究其种属特异性。【方法】应用PCR方法从鼠李糖乳杆菌GG的基因组扩增出spa A,并连接到质粒p ET-28α(+)中。将重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),经IPTG诱导表达和镍柱纯化制备重组SpaA。通过免疫BALB/c小鼠获得多克隆抗体,利用全菌ELISA、Western和Dot-blot分析了SpaA在18株乳酸菌(12个种)中的分布特征。【结果】表达的重组SpaA分子量为36 k D,与预期大小一致;获得的Spa A抗体效价为1:12 800。Western结果显示抗体与天然Spa A具有良好的反应性。在测定的18株乳酸菌中,鼠李糖乳杆菌、干酪乳杆菌、副干酪乳杆菌3个种属菌株的spa A基因PCR和RT-PCR检测均为阳性。但全菌ELISA和Dot-blot结果显示,只有3株鼠李糖乳杆菌的全菌细胞与SpaA抗体呈特异性反应,而其它种属的菌株没有明显的交叉反应。【结论】尽管spa A基因在鼠李糖乳杆菌、干酪乳杆菌、副干酪乳杆菌中具有高度同源性,但SpaA蛋白只特异性地呈现在鼠李糖乳杆菌细胞表面。本研究中获得的Spa A抗体,为高黏附性鼠李糖乳杆菌的免疫磁珠分离及菌毛功能研究提供了工具。     

Amelioration of regulatory T cells by Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Lactobacillus rhamnosus in pristane-induced lupus mice model

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an indispensable role in the control of immune responses and induction of peripheral tolerance. Dysregulation of Tregs is involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Tolerogenic probiotics have shown beneficial effects in the control of autoimmune diseases. We evaluated the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Lactobacillus rhamnosus on Tregs and their related molecules in pristane-induced lupus mice model. Fifty-four female BALB/c mice (3–5 weeks) were randomly divided into nine groups. Lupus was induced in all groups using pristane. Prophylactic groups were treated from Day 0 (at the time of pristane injection) and treatment groups were treated 2 months later with L. rhamnosus, L. delbrueckii, mix of both probiotics, and prednisolone. One group was considered as SLE-induced control group without any treatment. Presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), antidouble-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), antiribonucleoprotein (anti-RNP), proteinuria, and serum level of creatinine, urea, the expression of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-10, transforming growth factor β, and the number of Tregs were determined. SLE induction by pristane led to the formation of lipogranuloma, presence of ANA, anti-dsDNA, and anti-RNP. Probiotics consumption decreased the level of lipogranuloma, ANA, and anti-dsDNA. In addition, in probiotics receiving groups, Tregs and the expression level of Foxp3 increased, while IL-6 decreased. The effect of probiotics in the prophylactic group was more prominent. The results may indicate the effectiveness of L. delbrueckii and L. rhamnosus in the enhancement of Tregs and the decrease of inflammatory cytokines and disease severity in SLE-induced mice.     

高糖和氮源对鼠李糖乳杆菌(Lactobacillus rhamnosus)L-乳酸发酵的影响

鼠李糖乳杆菌经实验室耐高糖高酸选育,能够在高糖浓度下高效高产L-乳酸。以酵母粉为氮源和生长因子,葡萄糖初始浓度分别为120 g/L和146 g/L,摇瓶培养120h,L-乳酸产量分别为104g/L和117.5g/L,L-乳酸得率分别为86.7%和80.5%。高葡萄糖浓度对菌的生长和乳酸发酵有一定的抑制。增加接种量,在高糖浓度发酵条件下,可以缩短发酵时间,但对增加乳酸产量效果不明显。乳酸浓度对鼠李糖乳杆菌生长和产酸有显著的影响。初始乳酸浓度到达70g/L以上时,鼠李糖乳杆菌基本不生长和产酸,葡萄糖消耗也被抑制。酵母粉是鼠李糖乳杆菌的优良氮源,使用其它被测试的氮源菌体生长和产酸都有一定程度的下降。用廉价的黄豆粉并补充微量维生素液,替代培养基中的酵母粉,可以使产酸浓度和碳源得率得以基本维持。     

Exopolysaccharide production by Lactobacillus delbruckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus strains under different growth conditions

Summary The optimal temperature, pH and incubation time for production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) by Lactobacillus delbruckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus strains in MRS and M17 media, respectively, were determined. In all strains, the temperature and incubation time for EPS production were 45 °C and 18 h, respectively. At 45 °C, L. delbruckiisubsp. bulgaricus B3 and G12 and S. thermophilus W22 strains produced 263, 238 and 127 mg/l, respectively. At 18 h, B3, G12 and W22 strains produced 220, 152 and 120 mg/l, respectively. While the pH for highest EPS production by L. delbruckii subsp. bulgaricus strains was 6.2 (in B3 strain: 211 mg/l, in G12 strain: 175 mg/l), for highest EPS production byS. thermophilus strain it was 6.8 (114 mg/l).     

鼠李糖乳杆菌LV108及其发酵乳免疫调节作用的比较

目的 探讨鼠李糖乳杆菌LV108及其发酵乳对免疫抑制小鼠免疫功能的调节作用。 方法 将BALB/c小鼠随机分为5组,每组10只,即空白组(正常小鼠)、模型组(免疫抑制小鼠)、药物组(免疫抑制小鼠食物中添加左旋咪唑)、LV108菌悬液组(免疫抑制小鼠食物中添加LV108菌悬液)和LV108发酵乳组(免疫抑制小鼠食物中添加LV108发酵乳),除空白组外其余组构建免疫抑制小鼠模型。干预4周后,分别测定各组小鼠体质量和脏器指数,血清中白细胞介素2(IL2)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNFα)和免疫球蛋白G(IgG)含量,血清溶血素含量、耳肿胀度和肝、脾巨噬细胞吞噬能力。 结果 相比模型组,LV108菌悬液组和LV108发酵乳组小鼠体质量增长速度、脏器指数、血清IL2与IgG水平、血清溶血值、耳肿胀度和巨噬细胞吞噬能力显著升高(均P结论 LV108菌体及发酵乳对免疫抑制小鼠具备较全面的免疫调节作用,均可提高小鼠的自身免疫力;LV108发酵乳对小鼠的免疫调节作用强于LV108菌体。     

Lactic acid production by mixed cultures of Kluyveromyces marxianus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Lactobacillus helveticus

Lactic acid production using Kluyveromyces marxianus (IFO 288), Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus (ATCC 11842) and Lactobacillus helveticus (ATCC 15009) individually or as mixed culture on cheese whey in stirred or static fermentation conditions was evaluated. Lactic acid production, residual sugar and cell biomass were the main features examined. Increased lactic acid production was observed, when mixed cultures were used in comparison to individual ones. The highest lactic acid concentrations were achieved when K. marxianus yeast was combined with L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, and when all the strains were used revealing possible synergistic effects between the yeast and the two lactic acid bacteria. The same synergistic effects were further observed and verified when the mixed cultures were applied in sourdough fermentations, proving that the above microbiological system could be applied in the food fermentations where high lactic acid production is sought.     

Development of a 16S rDNA-targeted PCR assay for monitoring of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lact. rhamnosus during co-cultivation for production of inoculants for silages

AIMS: This paper reports a simple, rapid approach for the parallel detection of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lact. rhamnosus in co-culture in order to produce an inoculant mixture for silage purposes. METHODS AND RESULTS: The 16S rDNA-targeted PCR primers were established for parallel detection of Lact. plantarum and Lact. rhamnosus in a single multiplex PCR. A protocol for application of these primers in direct PCR as well as colony-direct (CD) PCR was developed. These primers were also applicable for the estimation of the relative amount of each DNA type in mixed probes (semi-quantitative PCR). CONCLUSIONS: The PCR assay presented in this study is a robust, fast and semi-quantitative approach for detection of Lact. plantarum and Lact. rhamnosus in liquid cultures as well as on agar plates. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This method provides an effective tool for the establishment of a regime for co-cultivation of Lact. plantarum and Lact. rhamnosus. This would enable faster and thus cost-reduced production of ensiling inoculants.     

Bile salt and acid tolerance of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains isolated from Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

This study aimed to compare phenotypic and genetic characteristics of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains isolated at the end of the ripening of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and to investigate an important prerequisite of probiotic interest, such as the capability to survive at low pH and in presence of bile salts. The use of API 50 CH, RAPD-PCR analysis and species-specific PCR allowed to ascertain the identity of 63 L. rhamnosus strains. Three L. rhamnosus strains isolated from Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, L. rhamnosus ATCC 7469T and the commercial strain L. GG were assayed to estimate the resistance to various stress factors reproducing in vitro some conditions of the gastro-intestinal environment such as low pH and different amounts of bile salts and acids. The behaviour of almost all the tested strains isolated from Parmigiano Reggiano cheese resulted analogous to that showed by L. GG.     

母乳联合鼠李糖乳杆菌预防早产儿喂养不耐受的疗效观察

目的 观察母乳联合鼠李糖乳杆菌预防早产儿喂养不耐受的临床疗效。方法 选取2016年2月至2017年2月武汉大学人民医院收治的80例生后24 h内入住本院儿科新生儿病房的早产儿,随机分配成2组,其中研究组40例,对照组40例。研究组以新鲜母乳联合鼠李糖乳杆菌早期开奶喂养,对照组以早产儿配方奶早期开奶喂养,比较2组早产儿喂养不耐受症的发生率及其恢复出生体重时间、达全胃肠道喂养时间、体重增长速度和住院时间的差异。结果 研究组患儿喂养不耐受发生率低于对照组,研究组恢复出生体重时间、达全胃肠道喂养时间及住院时间均短于对照组（P<0.05）,研究组患儿体重增加速度快于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 早产儿早期喂养母乳联合鼠李糖乳杆菌能够较早建立全胃肠道营养,减少早产儿喂养不耐受症的发生率,促进患儿体重增长,缩短恢复出生体重时间及达全胃肠道喂养时间,降低住院天数。     

Cellular injuries upon exposure of Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus rhamnosus to high-intensity ultrasound

AIMS: To examine cellular injuries occurring in cells of Escherichia coli (Gram-negative bacteria) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Gram-positive bacteria) in response to a high-intensity ultrasound treatment using classical plate count technique and flow cytometry. METHOD AND RESULTS: According to plate count results, E. coli (D-value 8.3 min) was far more sensitive than L. rhamnosus (D-value 18.1 min) in their response to the ultrasound intensity applied (20 kHz, 17.6 W). The dye precursor carboxyfluorescein diacetate (cFDA) could freely diffuse across the cytoplasmic membrane of intact cells of Gram-positive bacteria L. rhamnosus, resulting in its intracellular enzymatic conversion and emission of green fluorescence. In contrast, the presence of an outer membrane on E. coli, which represents the class of Gram-negative bacteria, apparently disabled the penetration of viability marker cFDA. Ultrasound application on E. coli yielded in an increasing population with disintegrated outer membrane, which allowed penetration of cFDA and its intracellular enzymatic conversion as well as accumulation. In both organisms evaluated only a small population was labelled by propidium iodide upon exposure to ultrasound for up to 20 min. Within the experimental conditions investigated ultrasound did not considerably affect the cytoplasmic membrane, although according to plate count results viability loss occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The results compiled suggest, that ultrasound induced cell death, which may not be related to membrane damage. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Limitation on the use of bacteriocins, which are aimed on destabilization of cytoplasmic membrane but inhibited by the outer membrane, could be overcome by ultrasound-assisted physical disruption of the outer membrane.     

Design of a low-cost culture medium based in whey permeate for biomass production of enological Lactobacillus plantarum strains

The production of malolactic starter cultures requires the obtention of suitably large biomass at low-cost. In this work it was possible to obtain a good amount of biomass, at laboratory scale, of two enological strains of Lb. plantarum, by formulating a culture medium based on whey permeate (WP), a by-product of the cheese industry usually disposed as waste, when this was supplemented with yeast extract (Y), salts (S) and Tween 80 (T) (WPYST). Bacteria grown in WPYST medium exhibited good tolerance to stress conditions of synthetic wine (pH 3.5, ethanol 13% vol/vol). However, when WPYST was added with 8% vol/vol ethanol, cultures inoculated in synthetic wine, showed a lower viability and capacity to consume L-malic acid than when they were cultured in WPYST without ethanol. Subsequently, strains grown in WPYST were inoculated in sterile wine samples (final stage of alcoholic fermentation) of the red varietals Merlot and Pinot noir, and incubated at laboratory scale. Cultures from WPYST, inoculated in Pinot noir wine, showed a better performance than bacteria grown in MRS broth, and exhibited a consumption of L-malic acid higher than 90%. However, cultures from WPYST or from MRS broth, inoculated in sterile Merlot wine, showed a lower survival. This study allowed the formulation of a low-cost culture medium, based on a by-product of the food industry, which showed to be adequate for the growth of two enological strains of Lb. plantarum, suggesting their potentiality for application in the elaboration of malolactic starter cultures.     

Tolerogenic probiotics Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Lactobacillus rhamnosus promote anti-inflammatory profile of macrophages-derived monocytes of newly diagnosed patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is known as an autoimmune disorder that is characterized by the breakdown of self-tolerance, resulting in disease onset and progression. Macrophages have been implicated as a factor in the development of SLE through faulty phagocytosis of dead cells or an imbalanced M1/M2 ratio. The study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Lactobacillus rhamnosus on M1 and M2 macrophages in new case lupus patients. For this purpose, blood monocytes were collected from lupus patients and healthy people and were cultured for 5 days to produce macrophages. For 48 h, the macrophages were then cocultured with either probiotics or lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Flow cytometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction were then used to analyze the expression of cluster of differentiation (CD) 14, CD80, and human leukocyte antigen – DR (HLADR) markers, as well as cytokine expression (interleukin [IL]1-β, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor α [TNF-α], IL-10, and transforming growth factor beta [TGF-β]). The results indicated three distinct macrophage populations, M0, M1, and M2. In both control and patient-derived macrophage-derived monocytes (MDMs), the probiotic groups showed a decrease in CD14, CD80, and HLADR expression compared to the LPS group. This decrease was particularly evident in M0 and M2 macrophages from lupus patients and M1 macrophages from healthy subjects. In addition, the probiotic groups showed increased levels of IL-10 and TGF-β and decreased levels of IL-12, IL1-β, and TNF-α in MDMs from both healthy and lupus subjects compared to the LPS groups. Although there was a higher expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in lupus patients, there was a higher expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines in healthy subjects. In general, L. delbrueckii and L. rhamnosus could induce anti-inflammatory effects on MDMs from both healthy and lupus subjects.