Kefir microbiota and metabolites stimulate intestinal mucosal immunity and its early development

Abstract

Kefir consists of a large number of probiotics, which can regulate or shape the balance of intestinal microbiota, and enhance the host's immune response. Kefir microbiota can shape the mucosal immunity of the body through SCFAs, EPS, polypeptides, lactic acid, and other metabolites and microbial antigens themselves, and this shaping may have time windows and specific pathways. Kefir can regulate antibody SIgA and IL-10 levels to maintain intestinal homeostasis, and its secreted SIgA can shape the stable microbiota system by wrapping and binding different classes of microorganisms. The incidence of intestinal inflammation is closely linked to the development and maturation of intestinal mucosal immunity. Based on summarizing the existing research results on Kefir, its metabolites, and immune system development, this paper proposes to use Kefir, traditional fermented food with natural immune-enhancing components and stable functional microbiota, as an intervention method. Early intervention in the immune system may seize the critical window period of mucosal immunity and stimulate the development and maturation of intestinal mucosal immunity in time.

Keywords:

• Kefir microbiota
• metabolites
• intestinal mucosal immunity
• early development

Disclosure statement

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province (2020B020226008, 2018B020206001), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC31171673).