Plain language summary
An abnormal immune response to gluten may lead to lifelong digestive symptoms in patients with celiac disease. Several species of beneficial bacteria in the gut may reduce inflammation by reducing the amount of proinflammatory cytokines released in response to antigens. The purpose of this randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL9 and L. paracasei 8700:2 on the development of celiac disease in children who are at high risk of developing the celiac disease while eating a gluten-containing diet. A total of seventy-eight children with celiac autoimmunity were given either 10¹ºCFU/day of L. plantarum HEAL9 and L. paracasei 8700:2 or maltodextrin for six months. It has been observed that six months of intervention with probiotics modulated the immune response in celiac disease autoimmunity. In the intervention group, there were no signs of celiac disease progression. There is a need for further robust and long-term studies to examine more specifically the benefits of Lactobacillus in the prevention of celiac disease as well as modulating effects on the intestinal mucosa. It is important to point out that healthcare professionals can use the results of this study to better understand the immunomodulatory effects of specific Lactobacillus strains in celiac disease.
Abstract
Two Lactobacillus strains have proven anti-inflammatory properties by reducing pro-inflammatory responses to antigens. This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial tested the hypothesis that L. plantarum HEAL9 and L. paracasei 8700:2 suppress ongoing celiac disease autoimmunity in genetically at risk children on a gluten-containing diet in a longitudinally screening study for celiac disease. Seventy-eight children with celiac disease autoimmunity participated of whom 40 received 1010 CFU/day of L. plantarum HEAL9 and L. paracasei 8700:2 (probiotic group) and 38 children maltodextrin (placebo group) for six months. Blood samples were drawn at zero, three and six months and phenotyping of peripheral blood lymphocytes and IgA and IgG autoantibodies against tissue transglutaminase (tTG) were measured. In the placebo group, naïve CD45RA+ Th cells decreased (p = 0.002) whereas effector and memory CD45RO+ Th cells increased (p = 0.003). In contrast, populations of cells expressing CD4+CD25highCD45RO+CCR4+ increased in the placebo group (p = 0.001). Changes between the groups were observed for NK cells (p = 0.038) and NKT cells (p = 0.008). Median levels of IgA-tTG decreased more significantly over time in the probiotic (p = 0.013) than in the placebo (p = 0.043) group whereas the opposite was true for IgG-tTG (p = 0.062 respective p = 0.008). In conclusion, daily oral administration of L. plantarum HEAL9 and L. paracasei 8700:2 modulate the peripheral immune response in children with celiac disease autoimmunity.
Methodological quality
Jadad score
:
4
Allocation concealment
:
No
