Influence of an Enterococcus faecium probiotic on the development of Peyer's patches B cells in piglets

Abstract

To study the interactions between a probiotic bacterium and the host's immune system, we undertook a feeding trial with Enterococcus faecium SF68 (NCIMB 10415). Starting at an age of 1 day, piglets received a daily oral dose of the probiotic bacteria. Immune cells were isolated from the blood and the distal continuous Peyer's patch (PP) of the piglets. While the percentage of B cells in the distal continuous PP was not influenced by the probiotic treatment, an elevated expression of CD1 on Peyer's patch B cells was observed after probiotic treatment. Furthermore, the fraction of CD4–CD8+ cells was decreased in this organ. In blood lymphocyte fractions of the probiotic-treated piglets, the proportion of CD16-positive cells was also diminished, whereas the portion of γδ T cells and CD4-positive T cells increased. The data indicate that early administration of the probiotic Enterococcus faecium can modulate the composition of blood lymphocyte populations in piglets.

Keywords:

• piglets
• Enterococcus faecium
• probiotics
• Peyer's patches
• B lymphocytes
• CD1 cells

Acknowledgements

We thank Barbeline Altherr who helped with the isolation of porcine immune cells. Furthermore we thank K. Tedin for critical reading and helpful comments on the manuscript and the personnel of the Institut für Tierernährung who helped to carry out the animal tests. This study was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Grant FOR 438.