Abstract
The use of bacteria in therapy has a long tradition. In the last years the number of clinical studies investigating bacteria in prevention or therapy of diseases has increased.
The studies are based on the finding that interaction between microorganisms and the mucosal system of the intestine has important effects on development and function of immune system and on the health of the whole organism. The aim of the study was to analyze the immunomodulatory properties of probiotic bifidobacteria strains from the Collection of Dairy Microorganisms Laktoflora ®.
The question was whether all strains react with blood mononuclear cells in the same way, or if there are differences between strains of the same species in cytokine stimulation and thus the strains may have a specific effect in the prevention and in the treatment of certain diseases. For this research was seleted 15 strains of the genus Bifidobacterium: B. animalis subsp. lactis, B. longum subsp. infantis, B. longum subsp. longum, B. dentium and Bifidobacterium sp.
Method : Mononuclear cells isolated from peripheral blood of healthy persons were cultivated with selected Bifidobacterium strain for 3 days at 37o C and 5% CO2. Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines produced during stimulation was determined by Luminex quantitative multiplex method.
Conclusion : It was found that different strains of bifidobacteria acting on the separated blood mononuclear cells stimulate cytokine production in individual manner. These characteristics of bifidobacteria strains could be used in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.