| Title | Bifidobacterium microbiota and parameters of immunefunction in elderly subjects |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2008 |
| Authors | Ouwehand A.C., Bergsma N., Parhiala R., Lahtinen S., Gueimonde M., Finne-Soveri H., Strandberg T., Pitkala K., Salminen S. |
| Journal | FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol |
| Pagination | 1-8 |
| Accession Number | WOS:000255644300003 |
| Abstract | Faecal and serum samples were collected over a period of 6 months from 55institutionalized elderly subjects, who were enrolled in a double-blind placebocontrolledstudy. Participants were randomized in one of the three treatment groups:intervention (two probiotic Bifidobacterium longum strains: 2C and 46), placebo andcommercial control (Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12). The faecal Bifidobacteriummicrobiota was characterized by genus and species-specific PCR. Serum levels ofthe cytokines IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a and transforming growth factor(TGF)-b1 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Each participantharboured on average approximately three different bifidobacterial species. Themost frequently detected species were B. longum, Bifidobacterium adolescentis andBifidobacterium bifidum. Depending on the treatment, the intervention resultedin specific changes in the levels of certain Bifidobacterium species, and positivecorrelations were found between the different species. Negative correlations wereobserved between the levels of Bifidobacterium species and the pro-inflammatorycytokine TNF-a and the regulatory cytokine IL-10. The presence of faecal B. longumand Bifidobacterium animalis correlated with reduced serum IL-10. The antiinflammatoryTGF-b1 levels were increased over time in all three groups, and thepresence of Bifidobacterium breve correlated with higher serum TGF-b1 levels. Thisindicates that modulation of the faecal Bifidobacterium microbiota may provide ameans of influencing inflammatory responses. |
