Acp. Rodrigues et al., Saccharomyces boulardii stimulates slgA production and the phagocytic system of gnotobiotic mice, J APPL MICR, 89(3), 2000, pp. 404-414
The effect of Saccharomyces boulardii on the immune system tvas evaluated,
comparing germ-free Swiss/NIH mice monoassociated with the probiotic with g
erm-free mice. Saccharomyces boulardii colonized the gut of germ-free mice
and survived the gastrointestinal conditions. An increase in sIgA productio
n, both total and anti-S. boulardii, was observed in the intestinal content
s of monoassociated mice when compared with germfree controls. The number o
f Kupffer cells was significantly higher in monoassociated mice than in ger
m-free controls. In S, boulardii-monoassociated mice, clearance of Escheric
hia coli B-41 was higher than in germ-free controls. TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma a
nd IL-12 serum levels were higher at earlier time points in monoassociated
mice when compared with germ-free mice. These results show that the yeast S
. boulardii modulates the host immune responses. This effect may be of inte
rest for improving the resistance to enteropathogenic bacterial infections.