Čes. slov. farm. 2016, 65(2):43-51 | DOI: 10.36290/csf.2016.010

Potential immunomodulatory and antiinflammatory mechanisms of probiotics

Andrea Bilková^*, František Bilka, Hana Kiňová Sepová

Katedra bunkovej a molekulárnej biológie liečiv, Farmaceutická fakulta, Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave

The number of preclinical and clinical studies showing efficacy of probiotics in the treatment and prophylaxis of certain diseases, e.g. diarrhoea of various origin, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, hypercholesterolemia, bacterial vaginosis, and colorectal cancer, is increasing. These health benefits are often species and strain specific. This article provides an overview of available knowledge about the supposed mechanisms of probiotic microorganism's action focusing in particular on the interaction between probiotic and host cells. One of the results of this interaction is induction of pro- or anti-inflammatory immune response in the macroorganism. Detailed knowledge of the signalling pathways involved in the communication between bacterial and human cells can find application in the selection of optimal probiotics for the targeted treatment of selected diseases. Additional possibilities for their use in clinical practice are provided by genetic manipulation of probiotic microorganisms.

Keywords: probiotics; inflammation; signalling pathways; immunomodulation; genetic manipulation

Grants and funding:

Práca bola podporená aj grantom APVV 0484-12.

Received: November 25, 2015; Accepted: April 1, 2016; Published: February 1, 2016  Show citation