Modulation of the TNFα-induced gene expression profile of intestinal epithelial cells by soy fermented with lactic acid bacteria

Abstract

The effect of soy ferments on gene expression induced by the proinflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) at the intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) level was evaluated. Microarray-based transcriptional analysis revealed that soy fermented with Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Streptococcus thermophilus R0083 (SF-Lh) down-regulated 33 of 40 proinflammatory genes up-regulated by TNFα in HT-29 IEC, attenuating expression of genes encoding several proinflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecules. TNFα-mediated activation of gene expression associated with the NF-κB pathway was also repressed, as was Interleukin-8 (IL-8) production. In contrast, soy fermented with Bifidobacterium longum R0175 and S. thermophilus R0083 (SF-Bl) up-regulated expression of three proinflammatory genes induced by TNFα. Increased intracellular levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were detected in HT-29 IEC following incubation with SF-Lh. These results indicate that SF-Lh has immunomodulatory activity through reduction of proinflammatory gene expression at the IEC level.

Keywords

• Soy milk
• Lactic acid bacteria
• Probiotic
• Intestinal epithelial cell
• TNFα
• NF-κB