Potential of Lactobacillus acidophilus to modulate cytokine production by peripheral blood monocytes in patients with endometriosis

Fatemeh  Mehdizadeh Sari; Shiva Mirkalantari; Shohreh Nikoo; Fatemeh Sepahvand; Leila Allahqoli; Arezoo Asadi; Malihe Talebi

doi:10.18502/ijm.v14i5.10965

Fatemeh Mehdizadeh Sari Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Shiva Mirkalantari Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Shohreh Nikoo Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Fatemeh Sepahvand Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Leila Allahqoli Department of Midwifery, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
Arezoo Asadi Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
Malihe Talebi Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v14i5.10965

Keywords: Probiotic; Endometriosis; Lactibacillus acidophilus; Inflammatory cytokines

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Pe- ripheral blood monocytes cells (PBMCs) may have altered function to some extent in women with endometriosis. Lactoba- cillus acidophilus is a probiotic bacterium within the human bodywith the ability of alleviating many inflammatory diseases. Here, we examined the effect of L. acidophilus on PBMCs of endometriosis patients.

Materials and Methods: In this study, peripheral blood samples were obtained from endometriosis patients (n=11) and non-endometriosis individuals (n=11). After isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with Ficoll, cells were cultured in the presence and absence ofphytohemagglutinin. Also, these cells were co-cultured with 1×106 CFU/ ml of L. acidophilus. IL-6 and IL-1 cytokines were measured by ELISA methodand the two groups were evaluated and compared.

Results: The results showed that in endometriosis patients, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1 and IL-6, by PBMC was increasedcompared to non-endometriosis subjects, and stimuli such as PHA intensified this elevation. Also, L. acidophilus increased the levels of pro-inflammatorycytokines including IL-1 and IL-6. However, the production of these cytokines decreased due to the modulatory properties of bacterial cells after 48 h.

Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, IL-1 and IL-6 production was significantly increased in PMBCs of endometriosis patientscompared to that of the healthy controls. Also, Lactobacillus acidophilus was considered as an antigenic compound and induced IL-1 and IL-6 production.According to these results, probiotics can be further used for the treatment of endometriosis patients and more investigations are needed to confirm these results.