Potential of probiotic strains to modulate the inflammatory responses of epithelial and immune cells in vitro.

Lactobacilli are important human commensal microbiota that are considered to be probiotic as they have been shown to reduce pathogenic infections and chronic inflammation. This study compared 4 strains of lactobacilli for their probiotic potential. These 4 strains showed varying capacities for adhesion and cytokine induction (interleukin [IL]-8 and IL-10) in different human epithelial cells, such as primary cultures of buccal cavity cells, and established cell lines derived from epithelia of the pharynx, intestine and cervix.