Age-related decline in macrophage and lymphocyte functions in mice and its alleviation by treatment with probiotic Dahi containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum

• Published in: Journal of dairy research Vol. 78; no. 4; pp. 404 - 411
• Main Authors: Kaushal, Deepti, Kansal, Vinod K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.11.2011
• Subjects: Age; Aging - immunology; Animal productions; Animals; Bacteria; Bifidobacterium; Bifidobacterium bifidum; Biological and medical sciences; buffalo milk; Buffaloes; diet; Dinoprostone - biosynthesis; elderly; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Immune system; interleukin-2; Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis; interleukin-6; Interleukin-6 - biosynthesis; Lactobacillus acidophilus; Lactococcus lactis; Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes - immunology; macrophages; Macrophages - immunology; Male; Mice; Milk; Milk and cheese industries. Ice creams; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis; Nutrition; probiotics; Probiotics - administration & dosage; prostaglandins; splenocytes; Terrestrial animal productions; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - biosynthesis; Vertebrates; macrophage; probiotic Dahi; ageing; Lactobacillus acidophilus; Bifidobacterium bifidum; lymphocyte; Probiotic; Actinomycetaceae; Ageing; Rodentia; Actinomycetales; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Treatment; Mouse; Dairy industry; Bacteria; Lactobacillaceae; Actinomycetes; Lymphocyte; Age
• ISSN: 0022-0299; 1469-7629
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022029911000537

This study evaluated the effects of probiotic Dahi administration in ageing mice on macrophage and lymphocyte functions. Probiotic Dahi were prepared by co-culturing in buffalo milk (3% fat) Dahi bacteria (Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris NCDC-86 and Lc. lactis ssp. lactis biovar diacetylactis NCDC-60) along with Lactobacillus acidophilus LaVK2 (La-Dahi) or combined Lb. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum BbVK3 (LaBb-Dahi). Four groups of 12 mo old mice were fed for four months, with the supplements (5 g/day) of buffalo milk (3% fat), Dahi, La-Dahi and LaBb-Dahi, respectively, in addition to basal diet, and a fifth group that received no supplements served as control. The immune functions of young mice (4 mo old) were also compared with those of ageing adult mice (16 mo old). The production of nitric oxide and cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α declined and that of immunosuppressive prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) increased by stimulated peritoneal and splenic macrophages in ageing mice, compared with their young counterparts. The proliferation of stimulated splenocytes diminished and the production of IL-2 decreased and that of IL-6 and TNF-α enhanced in ageing compared with young mice. Feeding ageing mice with La-Dahi or LaBb-Dahi improved peritoneal macrophage functions stimulating nitric oxide and IL-6 and diminishing PGE2 production. Feeding La-Dahi or LaBb-Dahi also improved lymphocyte functions stimulating their proliferation and production of IL-2 in ageing mice. To conclude, the probiotic La-Dahi and LaBb-Dahi are effective in reversing age related decline in immune functions in mice.