Species- or genus-dependent immunostimulatory effects of gut-derived potential probiotics

Saisai Feng; Shunhe Wang; Dingwu Qu; Jing Li; Fengwei Tian; Leilei Yu; Hao Zhang; Jianxin Zhao; Wei Chen; Qixiao Zhai

doi:10.1016/j.jgg.2022.11.001

Species- or genus-dependent immunostimulatory effects of gut-derived potential probiotics

J Genet Genomics. 2022 Nov 7:S1673-8527(22)00245-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2022.11.001. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Saisai Feng¹, Shunhe Wang², Dingwu Qu², Jing Li², Fengwei Tian², Leilei Yu², Hao Zhang³, Jianxin Zhao², Wei Chen⁴, Qixiao Zhai⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Food Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030000, China; State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; Wuxi Translational Medicine Research Center and Jiangsu Translational Medicine Research Institute Wuxi Branch, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China. Electronic address: zhaiqixiao@sina.com.

PMID: 36356718
DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2022.11.001

Abstract

The immune regulatory effects of probiotics have been widely recognized to be strain-specific. However it is unknown if there is a species- or genus-dependent manner. In this study, we use an in vitro mesenteric lymph node (MLN) model to systematically evaluate the immunostimulatory effects of gut-derived potential probiotics. The results exhibit an obvious species or genus consensus immune response pattern. RNA-seq shows that T cell-dependent B cell activation and antibody responses may be inherent to this model. Of the five tested genera, Akkermansia spp. and Clostridium butyrium directly activate the immune response in vitro, as indicated by the secretion of interleukin-10. Bifidobacterium spp. and Bacteroides spp. activate immune response with the help of stimuli (anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies). Lactobacillus spp. blunt the immune response with or without stimuli. Further investigations show that the cell surface protein of A. muciniphila AH39, which may serve as a T cell receptor cognate antigen, might evoke an in vitro immune activation. In vivo, oral administration of A. muciniphila AH39 influences the proportion of T regulatory cells (Tregs) in MLNs and the spleen under homeostasis in both specific pathogen-free and germ-free mice. All these findings indicate the distinct effects of different genera or species of potential gut-derived probiotics on intestinal and systemic immunity.

Keywords: Akkermansia muciniphila; Clostridium butyricum; In vitro model; Mesenteric lymph nodes; Species or genus responsive pattern.