Tasuku Ogita

Bifidobacterium longum Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis by Suppressing IL-17A Response: Involvement of Intestinal Epithelial Costimulatory Molecules

Although some bacterial strains show potential to prevent colitis, their mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the anti-colitic mechanisms of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis JCM 1222T, focusing on the relationship between interleukin (IL)-17A secreting CD4+ T cells and intestinal epithelial costimulatory molecules in mice. Oral administration of JCM 1222T to mice alleviated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis. The expression of type 1 helper T (Th1)- and IL-17 producing helper T (Th17)-specific cytokines and transcriptional factors was suppressed by JCM 1222T treatment. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) from colitic mice induced IL-17A production from CD4+ T cells in a cell-cell contact-dependent manner, and this was suppressed by oral treatment with JCM 1222T. Using blocking antibodies for costimulatory molecules, we revealed that epithelial costimulatory molecules including CD80 and CD40, which were highly expressed in IECs from colitic mice, were involved in IEC-induced IL-17A response. Treatment of mice and intestinal epithelial cell line Colon-26 cells with JCM 1222T decreased the expression of CD80 and CD40. Collectively, these data indicate that JCM 1222T negatively regulate epithelial costimulatory molecules, and this effect might be attributed, at least in part, to suppression of IL-17A in DSS-induced colitis.

Streptococcus thermophilus ST28 Ameliorates Colitis in Mice Partially by Suppression of Inflammatory Th17 Cells

The effects of Streptococcus thermophilus ST28 on cytokine production by murine splenocytes stimulated with transforming growth factor-β plus interleukin- (IL-) 6 were evaluated. The addition of ST28 significantly repressed IL-17 production compared to ATCC 19258 (type strain). ST28 also decreased the number of Th17 cells in the stimulated splenocytes. The anti-inflammatory effects of ST28 administration were evaluated in mice with colitis induced by dextran sodium sulphate (DSS). Oral treatment of mice with ST28 ameliorated the intestinal lesions by DSS. Upon DSS treatment, IL-17 production in lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs) was induced, but ST28 significantly decreased its production. ST28 also decreased the percentage of Th17 cells in LPL from DSS-induced colitis. The present results imply that ST28 suppresses the Th17 response in inflamed intestines and would be useful in the treatment of Th17-mediated diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease.

Suppression of Th17 response by Streptococcus thermophilus ST28 through induction of IFN-γ

The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-17 plays important roles in various inflammatory diseases, and IL-17-producing T helper 17 cells (Th17) have received much attention. For therapy of Th17-mediated diseases, some reports have indicated the clinical efficacy of lactic acid bacteria, including Streptococcus thermophilus. In this study, we examined the mechanism for the suppressive effects of S. thermophilus ST28 on the Th17 response in murine splenocytes stimulated with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β plus IL-6. Stimulation with TGF-β plus IL-6 increased mRNA expression of IL-17 and its production in the splenocytes, but ST28 markedly suppressed both. Meanwhile, ST28 increased the mRNA expression of interferon (IFN)-γ as well as its production. Anti-IFN-γ completely cancelled the suppressive effect of ST28 on IL-17 production. From these data, it was concluded that IFN-γ induced by ST28 had an important role on the effect. A genomic DNA (10 µg/ml) from ST28 effectively suppressed IL-17 production, probably via the Toll-like receptor 9. Therefore, modulation of Th1/Th17 balance would be one of the mechanisms under which S. thermophilus ST28 exerts an anti-inflammatory effect.

Secretion of an immunoreactive single-chain variable fragment antibody against mouse interleukin 6 by Lactococcus lactis

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is an important pathogenic factor in development of various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and cancer. Blocking antibodies against molecules associated with IL-6/IL-6 receptor signaling are an attractive candidate for the prevention or therapy of these diseases. In this study, we developed a genetically modified strain of Lactococcus lactis secreting a single-chain variable fragment antibody against mouse IL-6 (IL6scFv). An IL6scFv-secretion vector was constructed by cloning an IL6scFv gene fragment into a lactococcal secretion plasmid and was electroporated into L. lactis NZ9000 (NZ-IL6scFv). Secretion of recombinant IL6scFv (rIL6scFv) by nisin-induced NZ-IL6scFv was confirmed by western blotting and was optimized by tuning culture conditions. We found that rIL6scFv could bind to commercial recombinant mouse IL-6. This result clearly demonstrated the immunoreactivity of rIL6scFv. This is the first study to engineer a genetically modified strain of lactic acid bacteria (gmLAB) that produces a functional anti-cytokine scFv. Numerous previous studies suggested that mucosal delivery of biomedical proteins using gmLAB is an effective and low-cost way to treat various disorders. Therefore, NZ-IL6scFv may be an attractive tool for the research and development of new IL-6 targeting agents for various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases as well as for cancer.

Modulatory activity of Lactobacillus rhamnosus OLL2838 in a mouse model of intestinal immunopathology.

Gut microbiota and probiotic strains play an important role in oral tolerance by modulating regulatory and effector cell components of the immune system. We have previously described the ability of Lactobacilli to influence both the innate and adaptive immunity to wheat gluten, a food antigen, in mouse. In this study, we further explored the immunomodulatory mechanisms elicited in this model by testing three specific probiotic strains, namely L. rhamnosus OLL2838, B. infantis ATCC15697 and S. thermophilus Sfi39. In vitro analysis showed the all tested strains induced maturation of bone marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs). However, only L. rhamnosus induced appreciable levels of IL-10 and nitric oxide productions, whereas S. thermophilus essentially elicited IL-12 and TNF-α. The anti-inflammatory ability of OLL2838 was then tested in vivo by adopting mice that develop a gluten-specific enteropathy. This model is characterized by villus blunting, crypt hyperplasia, high levels of intestinal IFN-γ, increased cell apoptosis in lamina propria, and reduced intestinal total glutathione (GSHtot) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity. We found that, following administration of OLL2838, GSHtot and GST activity were enhanced, whereas caspase-3 activity was reduced. On the contrary, this probiotic strain failed in recovering the normal histology and further increased intestinal IFN-γ. Confocal microscopy revealed the inability of the probiotic strain to appropriately interact with enterocytes of the small intestine and with Peyers patches in treated mice. In conclusion, these data highlighted the potential of L. rhamnosus OLL2838 to recover specific toxicity parameters induced by gluten in enteropathic mice through mechanisms that involve induction of low levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

In vivo dose response and in vitro mechanistic analysis of enhanced immunoglobulin A production by Lactobacillus plantarum AYA

Secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) mediates the mucosal immune system, which provides the first line of defense against inhaled and ingested pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Lactobacillus plantarum AYA increases the IgA level of Peyer’s patch (PP) cells, but the recommended amount of consumption and the mechanism of action remains unclear. Better understanding of these is essential to development of L. plantarum AYA for use in functional foods. Therefore, we investigated the dose-response effect (in vivo) and mechanism (in vitro) of IgA enhancement induced by L. plantarum AYA. In the small intestine of the mice fed a diet containing 0.03% or 0.3% of L. plantarum AYA powder for 4 weeks, the IgA levels were significantly increased. Thus, it is suggested that the recommended amount of consumption of L. plantarum AYA is about 0.72 mg per day. In addition, the bacterial cell wall fraction significantly enhanced the IgA production level of murine PP cells in the in vitro assay. The ability of whole cells and the cell wall fraction to enhance IgA levels was significantly inhibited by an anti-Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) antibody, which suggests that the cell wall fraction of L. plantarum AYA increases the IgA level via TLR-2. These findings indicate that L. plantarum AYA is a potential functional food source that maintains mucosal immunity.

Genetically modified Lactococcus lactis producing a green fluorescent protein–bovine lactoferrin fusion protein suppresses proinflammatory cytokine expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells

Lactoferrin (LF), an iron-binding glycoprotein distributed widely in the biological fluids of mammals, is believed to play an important role in host defenses against infection. Previous studies in animal models and humans demonstrated that combined administration of LF and probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can prevent sepsis. In this study, we genetically engineered a probiotic LAB strain, Lactococcus lactis, to produce recombinant bovine LF based on the green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fused expression system. Western blotting confirmed that the genetically modified L. lactis strain (designated NZ-GFP-bLF) produced a protein corresponding to a fusion of GFP and bLF in the presence of nisin, an inducer of target gene expression. The protein synthesized by NZ-GFP-bLF was fluorescent and thus we monitored the time-dependent change in the production level of the recombinant protein using fluorometric analysis. The utility of NZ-GFP-bLF in preventing sepsis was determined by investigating its anti-inflammatory property in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Pretreatment of RAW 264.7 cells with NZ-GFP-bLF significantly attenuated the LPS-induced mRNA expression and protein production of 3 proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α) compared with pretreatment with a vector control strain of L. lactis. Our results suggest that NZ-GFP-bLF holds promise for the development of a new prophylaxis for sepsis.

Class A CpG Oligonucleotide Priming Rescues Mice from Septic Shock via Activation of Platelet-Activating Factor Acetylhydrolase

Sepsis is a life-threatening, overwhelming immune response to infection with high morbidity and mortality. Inflammatory response and blood clotting are caused by sepsis, which induces serious organ damage and death from shock. As a mechanism of pathogenesis, platelet-activating factor (PAF) induces excessive inflammatory responses and blood clotting. In this study, we demonstrate that a Class A CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-A1585) strongly induced PAF acetylhydrolase, which generates lyso-PAF. CpG-A1585 rescued mice from acute lethal shock and decreased fibrin deposition, a hallmark of PAF-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation. Furthermore, CpG-A1585 improved endotoxin shock induced by lipopolysaccharide, which comprises the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria and inhibits inflammatory responses induced by cytokines such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. These results suggest that CpG-A1585 is a potential therapeutic target to prevent sepsis-related induction of PAF.

Identification and evaluation of antioxidants in Japanese parsley

Abstract Two cultivars of Japanese parsley were harvested in different seasons; their antioxidant capacities were evaluated by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) methods, and the contents of hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants were compared. Japanese parsley possessed potent antioxidant capacities both in hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts when evaluated by ORAC methods. LC/MS/MS analyses revealed that chlorogenic acid and four kinds of quercetin glycosides were major antioxidants in the hydrophilic extract. Lutein was the main contributor to the antioxidant capacity of the lipophilic extract. Antioxidant capacities of the hydrophilic extracts of both cultivars tended to be higher in winter because of the increase in the contents of chlorogenic acid and quercetin glycosides. An obvious trend in the lipophilic antioxidant capacities or lutein contents was not observed irrespective of the cultivar.

Recombinant Mouse Osteocalcin Secreted by Lactococcus lactis Promotes Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Induction in STC-1 Cells

An osteoblastic protein, osteocalcin (OC), exists in vivo in two forms: carboxylated OC, and uncarboxylated or low-carboxylated OC (ucOC). ucOC acts as a hormone to regulate carbon and energy metabolism. Recent studies demonstrated that ucOC exerts insulinotropic effects, mainly through the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) pathway. GLP-1 is an insulinotropic hormone secreted by enteroendocrine L cells in the small intestine. Thus, efficient delivery of ucOC to the small intestine may be a new therapeutic option for metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Here, we genetically engineered a lactic acid bacterium, Lactococcus lactis, to produce recombinant mouse ucOC. Western blotting showed that the engineered strain (designated NZ-OC) produces and secretes the designed peptide (rOC) in the presence of nisin, an inducer of the recombinant gene. Highly-purified rOC was obtained from the culture supernatants of NZ-OC using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. An in vitro assay showed that purified rOC promotes GLP-1 secretion in a mouse intestinal neuroendocrine cell line, STC-1, in a dose-dependent manner. These results clearly demonstrate that NZ-OC secretes rOC, and that rOC can promote GLP-1 secretion by STC-1 cells. Genetically modified lactic acid bacteria (gmLAB) have been proposed over the last two decades as an effective and low-cost mucosal delivery vehicle for biomedical proteins. NZ-OC may be an attractive tool for the delivery of rOC to trigger GLP-1 secretion in the small intestine to treat diabetes and obesity.