Probiotic-mediated modulation of host inflammation

Abstract

Evaluation of: Mohamadzadeh M, Pfeiler EA, Brown JB et al. Regulation of induced colonic inflammation by Lactobacillus acidophilus deficient in lipoteichoic acid. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 108(Suppl. 1), 4623–4630 (2011).

Although much has become known about the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), our understanding remains incomplete. As a consequence, IBD conditions are chronic debilitating states without cure. A recent study elegantly describes a mechanism by which host inflammatory responses can be modulated and modified. A series of in vitro and in vivo studies, employing complementary animal models of gut inflammation, illustrates how modification of cell surface molecules on a probiotic bacterium can influence host innate immune responses and, as a result, alter inflammatory events. The article under evaluation provides important new information on the mechanisms by which specific probiotic organisms may be able to be attenuate gut inflammation in individuals with IBD.

Keywords::

• gut inflammation
• IL-10
• innate immunity
• Lactobacilli
• Toll-like receptor 2

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.