Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
recently investigated the ability of
LGG
in the prevention of colitis by decreasing
I L-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and increasing the cecal IL-10.
These probiotics downregulate Th1 cytokine while maintaining transforming growth
factor-beta (TGF-β). Both oral and subcutaneous administration of probiotics pro-
motes this effect. This activity of lactobacilli via the subcutaneous route protects
not only against colitis but also against collagen arthritis, a Th1 mediated model of
autoimmunity.
99
Lactobacillus acidophilus
and
L. paracasei
are potential enhancers of systemic
immunity and are nonpathogenic, as suggested by their bacterial translocation pro-
files in healthy mice.
104
Ulisse et al.
105
reported that VSL#3 is able to induce a sig-
nificant increase in the expression of the antiinflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the
mucosal pouch compared to inflamed and antibiotic-treated patients. Suzuki et al.
106
investigated the ability of 46 different
L. lactis
strains to induce production of the
cytokines IL-6, IL-12, and TNF- α. The ability of these strains to induce TNF-α,
but not IL-6 and IL-12, was lost after heat treatment, suggesting that the stimulus
required for TNF-α induction is heat sensitive and is different from those required
for IL-6 and IL-12 induction.
18.3.2.3 urinary Tract Infections (uTI)
Infections of the urethra, bladder, ureter, and kidney affect nearly 3,000 million
women per year worldwide. They are due to microbial invasion or an imbalance of
the urinary tract microflora. Nearly 50 bacterial strains are found to cause UTIs.
Bacterial and fungal infections of the urinary tract are the most promising field of
application for probiotics other than the intestine.
Lactobacillus
organisms that pre-
dominate in the vagina of healthy women spread from their rectum and perineum
and form a barrier to the entry of uropathogens from vagina into the bladder. They
are believed to protect the host against infections by means of several mechanisms
including (1) occupation of specific adhesion sites at the epithelial surface of the uri-
nary tract; (2) maintenance of a low pH and production of antimicrobial substances
like acids, hydrogen peroxide, and bacteriocins; (3) degradation of polyamines; and
(4) the production of surfactants with antiadhesive properties.
107
The concept of artificially boosting the lactobacilli numbers through probiotic
instillation has long been conceived, but only in recent years has it been shown to
be possible. It is to be noted that not all lactobacilli are effective, and to date only
L. rhamnosus
GR-1 and
L. reuteri
B-54 and RC-14 have been found to be clinical
effective.
108
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
GR-1,
L. fermentum
RC-14, and
L. crispatus
CTV-05 have been proved successful against urogenital infections, such as UTIs and
bacterial vaginosis. Clinical trials increasingly provide a profound scientific basis for
the use of probiotics in UTIs.
109
Tomoda et al.
110
reported that oral administration of
B. longum
, in an open study,
reduced
Candida
infections in urethra by up to 70 percent.
In vitro
adhesion of
C.
albicans
and
Staphylococcus aureus
have been reported to be reduced on epithelial
cell lines of the urinary tract by
L. acidophilus
,
L. rhamnosus
.
108
An open, ran-
domized, clinical study showed that local application of
L. rhamnosus
was effective
