Modulation of T Regulatory and Dendritic Cell Phenotypes Following Ingestion of , AHCC and Azithromycin in Healthy Individuals.

The probiotic Bifidus BB536 (BB536), which contains , has been shown to have enhanced probiotic effects when given together with a standardized extract of cultured mycelia (AHCC, Amino Up Co. Ltd., Sapporo, Japan). BB536 and AHCC may modulate T cell and dendritic cell (DC) phenotypes, and cytokine profiles to favour anti-inflammatory responses following antibiotic ingestion. We tested the hypothesis that orally administered BB536 and/or AHCC, results in modulation of immune effector cells with polarisation towards anti-inflammatory responses following antibiotic usage. Forty healthy male volunteers divided into 4 equal groups were randomised to receive either placebo, BB536, AHCC or a combination for 12 days in a double-blind manner. After 7 days volunteers also received 250 mg azithromycin for 5 days. Cytokine profiles from purified CD3+ T cells stimulated with PDB-ionomycin were assessed. CD4+ CD25+ forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) expression and peripheral blood DC subsets were assessed prior to treatment and subsequently at 7 and 13 days. There was no difference in cytokine secretion from stimulated CD3+ T cells between treatment groups. Compared with baseline, Foxp3 expression (0.45 ± 0.1 vs. 1.3 ± 0.4; = 0.002) and interferon-gamma/interleukin-4 (IFN-γ/IL-4) ratios were increased post-treatment in volunteers receiving BB536 ( = 0.031), although differences between groups were not significant. For volunteers receiving combination BB536 and AHCC, there was an increase in myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) compared with plasmacytoid DC (pDC) counts (80% vs. 61%; = 0.006) at post treatment time points. mDC2 phenotypes were more prevalent, compared with baseline, following combination treatment (0.16% vs. 0.05%; = 0.002). Oral intake of AHCC and BB536 may modulate T regulatory and DC phenotypes to favour anti-inflammatory responses following antibiotic usage.