This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by LeBlanc, J. Articles by Matar, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by LeBlanc, J. Articles by Matar, C.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, November 2004, p. 1171-1181, Vol. 11, No. 6
1071-412X/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CDLI.11.6.1171-1181.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Induction of a Humoral Immune Response following an Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infection with an Immunomodulatory Peptidic Fraction Derived from Lactobacillus helveticus-Fermented Milk

Département de Chimie et Biochimie, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick,¹ Département des Sciences des Aliments et Nutrition, Pavillon Paul-Comtois, Université Laval, Québec, Canada²

Received 12 December 2003/ Returned for modification 20 February 2004/ Accepted 8 June 2004

Numerous beneficial effects have been attributed to probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB), such as the stimulation of the immune system, the prevention of enteric infections by enteropathogens, and the regression of immunodependent tumors. It has been shown that biologically active metabolites released during fermentation, in particular biopeptides, could act as immunomodulatory agents. However, no studies have been conducted to evaluate the implication of these bioactive peptides in the induction of a protective immune response against enteric infections. The present study aimed to evaluate the possible immunomodulatory and anti-infectious effects of a peptidic fraction released in milk fermented by Lactobacillus helveticus. The immune response in the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue was monitored following an administration of the potentially bioactive peptidic fraction. The total immunoglobulin A (IgA) immune response was evaluated after an Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection in a BALB/c murine model. Immunohistochemical and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays revealed an increase in the number of IgA-secreting B lymphocytes in the intestinal lamina propria and an enhanced total secretory and systemic IgA response. Cytokine profiling also revealed stimulation of a Th2 response in mice fed the peptidic fraction, whereas infected controls demonstrated a proinflammatory Th1 response. These results indicate that bioactive peptides released during fermentation by LAB could contribute to the known immunomodulatory effects of probiotic bacteria.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Khan, S. (2006). Biopeptides and immune exclusion. CMAJ 174: 65-66 [Full Text]  
• Mayr, U. B., Haller, C., Haidinger, W., Atrasheuskaya, A., Bukin, E., Lubitz, W., Ignatyev, G. (2005). Bacterial Ghosts as an Oral Vaccine: a Single Dose of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Bacterial Ghosts Protects Mice against Lethal Challenge. Infect. Immun. 73: 4810-4817 [Abstract] [Full Text]