Heat-Killed Lactobacillus plantarum KCTC 13314BP Enhances Phagocytic Activity and Immunomodulatory Effects Via Activation of MAPK and STAT3 Pathways

• Published in: Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol. 29; no. 8; pp. 1248 - 1254
• Main Authors: Jeong, Minju, Kim, Jae Hwan, Yang, Hee, Kang, Shin Dal, Song, Seongbong, Lee, Deukbuhm, Lee, Ji Su, Park, Jung Han Yoon, Byun, Sanguine, Lee, Ki Won
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 한국미생물·생명공학회 28.08.2019
• Subjects: 생물학; phagocytosis; macrophages; Lactobacillus plantarum; immunomodulatory effect
• ISSN: 1017-7825; 1738-8872
• DOI: 10.4014/jmb.1905.05066

Identification of novel probiotic strains is of great interest in the field of functional foods. Specific strains of heat-killed bacteria have been reported to exert immunomodulatory effects. Herein, we investigated the immune-stimulatory function of heat-killed KCTC 13314BP (LBP). Treatment with LBP significantly increased the production of TNF-α and IL-6 by macrophages. More importantly, LBP was able to enhance the phagocytic activity of macrophages against bacterial particles. Activation of p38, JNK, ERK, NF-κB, and STAT3 was involved in the immunomodulatory function of LBP. LBP treatment significantly increased production of TNF-α by bone marrow-derived macrophages and splenocytes, further confirming the immunostimulatory effect of LBP in primary immune cells. Interestingly, the immunomodulatory effects of LBP were much stronger than those of GG, a well-known probiotic strain. These results indicate that LBP can be a promising immune-enhancing functional food agent..