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Effects of Bifidobacteriumlongum bv. Infantis CCUG 52486 combined with glucooligosaccharide on immune cell populations in healthy young and older subjects receiving an influenza vaccination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2013

A. Przemska ,
C. Maidens ,
C. Childs ,
H. Dong ,
K. Tuohy ,
I. Rowland ,
M. Gosney ,
S. Todd  and
P. Yaqoob
A. Przemska
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Reading RG6 6AP. *Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Group, Research and Innovation Centre-Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele allAdige, Trento, Italy
C. Maidens
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Reading RG6 6AP. *Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Group, Research and Innovation Centre-Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele allAdige, Trento, Italy
C. Childs
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Reading RG6 6AP. *Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Group, Research and Innovation Centre-Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele allAdige, Trento, Italy
H. Dong
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Reading RG6 6AP. *Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Group, Research and Innovation Centre-Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele allAdige, Trento, Italy
K. Tuohy
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Reading RG6 6AP. *Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Group, Research and Innovation Centre-Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele allAdige, Trento, Italy
I. Rowland
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Reading RG6 6AP. *Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Group, Research and Innovation Centre-Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele allAdige, Trento, Italy
M. Gosney
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Reading RG6 6AP. *Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Group, Research and Innovation Centre-Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele allAdige, Trento, Italy
S. Todd
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Reading RG6 6AP. *Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Group, Research and Innovation Centre-Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele allAdige, Trento, Italy
P. Yaqoob
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Reading RG6 6AP. *Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Group, Research and Innovation Centre-Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele allAdige, Trento, Italy
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Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 72 , Issue OCE1: 6th International Workshop on Immunonutrition, 15th–17th October 2012, Palma de Mallorca , 2013 , E43
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2013 

Probiotics have been suggested to modulate immune function in young and older subjects. However, the data is inconsistent, the mechanisms are not well characterised, and the influence of immunological ageing is unclear. The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of a novel probiotic, with a suitable prebiotic, on the immune response to influenza vaccination in healthy young and older subject.

In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 54 older subjects (69±4.6 y) and 58 young subjects (26±4.2 y) consumed either 5×108 CFU of Bifidobacteriumlongum bv. infantis CCUG 52486 combined with 8 g of glucooligosaccharide (GIOS), or placebo (9 g maltodextrin) daily for 8 weeks in total. After 4 weeks, subjects received an influenza vaccine (2010/2011 season). Quantification of T cells, NK cells and B cells was performed by flow cytometry at baseline and 4, 6 and 8 weeks after supplementation. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software and the Linear Mixed Model ANOVA.

Young subjects had significantly higher number of B cells (P<0.001), and this was particularly evident following vaccination (age*time interaction P<0.05). In contrast, older subjects had significantly more NK cells (P<0.001), but there was no change following vaccination. Young subjects had significantly more T cells compared to older subjects. After vaccination there was a slight increase in T cell number in the young cohort, but this did not reach statistical significance. Although total numbers of naïve T cells were unaffected by ageing, numbers of CD8+ naive T cells in older subjects were significantly lower than those in the young subjects. There was no influence of the pre- and probiotic treatment on numbers of immune cell populations.

Our findings confirm an influence of ageing on innate and adaptive immunity, chiefly lower T cell and B cell numbers and elevated numbers of NK cells in older subjects. Although, there was no effect of treatment on the immune cell numbers, we are currently investigating the effects of the pre- and probiotic on activity of NK cells, B cells and T cells following vaccination.