Anti-inflammatory effects of bifidobacteria by inhibition of LPS-induced NF-κB activation

AIM: Different strains of bifidobacteria were analysed for their effects on HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in in vitro models both of the non-inflamed and inflamed intestinal epithelium. METHODS: A reporter gene system in HT-29 cells was used to measure levels of NF-kappa B activation after challenge with bifidobacteria or after bacterial pre-treatment following LPS challenge. IL-8 protein and pro-inflammatory gene expression was investigated using normal HT-29 cells. RESULTS: None of the bifidobacteria tested induced activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) indicating that bifidobacteria themselves do not induce inflammatory events in IECs. However, six out of eight bifidobacteria tested inhibited lipopolysaccharide-(LPS-) induced NF-kappa B activation in a close- and strain-dependent manner. In contrast, NF-kappa B activation in response to challenge with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was affected by none of the tested bifidobacteria, indicating that the inhibitory effect of bifidobacteria is specific for LPS-induced inflammation in IECs. As shown with two of the six inhibition-positive bifidobacteria, LPS-incluced inhibition of NF-kappa B activation was accompanied by a dose-dependent decrease of interleukin 8 (IL-8) secretion and by lower mRNA levels for IL-8, TNF-alpha, cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). CONCLUSION: Some strains of bifidobacteria are effective in inhibiting LPS-incluced inflammation and thus might be appropriate candidates for probiotic intervention in chronic intestinal inflammation. (c) 2006 The WJG Press. All rights reserved.