Evaluating the Effect of Strain Shirota on the Physical Consistency of Stool in Healthy Participants with Hard or Lumpy Stools: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study.

We have earlier established a direct measurement method for assessing stool physical consistency using a texture analyzer (TAXT). The present study aimed to evaluate the stool softening effect of strain Shirota (LcS) using TAXT in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Sixty-four healthy participants with a Bristol stool form scale (BSFS) 1/2 ≥ 50% during screening consumed fermented milk containing LcS or a placebo beverage daily for 8 weeks.

Direct measurement of stool consistency by texture analyzer and calculation of reference value in Belgian general population.

Stool consistency is evaluated mainly in reference to indirect indicators such as water content or the appearance of stool forms using Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). Methods of measurement are limited. We thus aimed to develop a simple protocol for direct measurement of stool consistency using the TA.

Short communication: Probiotic induction of interleukin-10 and interleukin-12 production by macrophages is modulated by co-stimulation with microbial components.

Probiotic lactobacilli stimulate macrophages and dendritic cells to secrete cytokines and thereby regulate the immune responses of the host. The balance of the IL-10 and IL-12 production induced by a probiotic is crucial for determining the direction of the immune response. In the present study, we examined the ability of microbial components to modify IL-10 and IL-12 production induced by a popular probiotic strain, Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS), which itself predominantly induces IL-12 production.

Microbiota of the Small Intestine Is Selectively Engulfed by Phagocytes of the Lamina Propria and Peyer's Patches.

Phagocytes such as dendritic cells and macrophages, which are distributed in the small intestinal mucosa, play a crucial role in maintaining mucosal homeostasis by sampling the luminal gut microbiota. However, there is limited information regarding microbial uptake in a steady state. We investigated the composition of murine gut microbiota that is engulfed by phagocytes of specific subsets in the small intestinal lamina propria (SILP) and Peyer's patches (PP).

Enhanced differentiation of intraepithelial lymphocytes in the intestine of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor-deficient mice.

To clarify the effect of secretory IgA (sIgA) deficiency on gut homeostasis, we examined intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in the small intestine (SI) of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor-deficient (pIgR(-/-) ) mice. The pIgR(-/-) mice exhibited the accumulation of CD8αβ(+) T-cell receptor (TCR)-αβ(+) IELs (CD8αβ(+) αβ-IELs) after weaning, but no increase of CD8αβ(+) γδ-IELs was detected in pIgR(-/-) TCR-β(-/-) mice compared with pIgR(+/+) TCR-β(-/-) mice. When 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was given for 14 days, the proportion of BrdU-labelled cells in SI-IELs was not different between pIgR(+/+) mice and pIgR(-/-) mice.

Probiotic upregulation of peripheral IL-17 responses does not exacerbate neurological symptoms in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mouse models.

Context: It is of great importance to evaluate the safety of probiotics in dysregulated immune conditions, as probiotics can possibly modulate immune functions in the host.

Objective: We tried to confirm the safety of using Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) to help prevent autoimmunity in the central nervous system.

Methods: We used two chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) models, a relapse and remission type EAE model in SJL/J mice and a durable type model in C57BL/6 mice.

Duox maturation factors form cell surface complexes with Duox affecting the specificity of reactive oxygen species generation.

Dual oxidases (Duox1 and Duox2) are plasma membrane-targeted hydrogen peroxide generators that support extracellular hemoperoxidases. Duox activator 2 (Duoxa2), initially described as an endoplasmic reticulum resident protein, functions as a maturation factor needed to deliver active Duox2 to the cell surface. However, less is known about the Duox1/Duoxa1 homologues.

Subcellular localization and function of alternatively spliced Noxo1 isoforms.

Nox organizer 1 (Noxo1), a p47(phox) homolog, is produced as four isoforms with unique N-terminal PX domains derived by alternative mRNA splicing. We compared the subcellular distribution of these isoforms or their isolated PX domains produced as GFP fusion proteins, as well as their ability to support Nox1 activity in several transfected models. Noxo1alpha, beta, gamma, and delta show different subcellular localization patterns, determined by their PX domains.

A regulated adaptor function of p40phox: distinct p67phox membrane targeting by p40phox and by p47phox.

In the phagocytic cell, NADPH oxidase (Nox2) system, cytoplasmic regulators (p47(phox), p67(phox), p40(phox), and Rac) translocate and associate with the membrane-spanning flavocytochrome b(558), leading to activation of superoxide production. We examined membrane targeting of phox proteins and explored conformational changes in p40(phox) that regulate its translocation to membranes upon stimulation. GFP-p40(phox) translocates to early endosomes, whereas GFP-p47(phox) translocates to the plasma membrane in response to arachidonic acid.