AUTHOR=Daniels Victoria C. , Monaco Marcia H. , Hirvonen Johanna , Ouwehand Arthur C. , Jensen Henrik Max , Mukerjea Ratna , Christensen Niels , Lehtinen Markus J. , Dilger Ryan N. , Donovan Sharon M. 

TITLE=Interactions between the human milk oligosaccharide 2′-fucosyllactose and Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis in influencing systemic immune development and function in piglets

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1444594

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2024.1444594

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>The oligosaccharide 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) is a predominant component of human milk, serving as a prebiotic for gut microbiota and influencing immune development in infants. <italic>Bifidobacterium longum</italic> subspecies <italic>infantis (B. infantis)</italic> is a commensal bacterium found in breastfed infants. Both 2′-FL and a specific strain of <italic>B. infantis</italic>, Bi-26™, are commercially available. This study investigates the potential synbiotic relationship between 2′-FL and Bi-26™ on immune development.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Two-day-old piglets (<italic>n</italic> = 53) were randomized in a 2 × 2 design, receiving either a commercial milk replacer <italic>ad libitum</italic> without (CON) or with 1.0 g/L 2′-FL (FL). Piglets in each diet were further randomized to receive either glycerol stock alone or Bi-26™ (10<sup>9</sup> CFU) (BI and FLBI) orally once daily. On postnatal day (PND) 34/35, animals were euthanized, and blood was collected for serum cytokine analysis. Additionally, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated for <italic>ex vivo</italic> stimulation and flow cytometry analysis. Serum and <italic>ex vivo</italic> cytokines were analyzed using a multivariate model. All other outcomes were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA, considering prebiotic and probiotic fixed effects. The significance level was set at a <italic>p</italic> value &lt;0.05, with trends reported for 0.05 &lt; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.1.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Immune cell populations in PBMCs were unaffected by the experimental treatment. However, serum interleukin (IL)-1RA, IL-1β, IL-12, and IL-18 were all higher (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05) in the FL group than in the CON group. In isolated PBMCs, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation resulted in higher IL-1RA and a trend for higher IFN-<italic>γ</italic> secretion in the FL group vs. the CON group.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>2′-FL stimulates a balanced cytokine profile in healthy piglets without changing immune cell populations. When immune cells are stimulated <italic>ex vivo</italic> with LPS, 2′-FL primes T-cells for a proinflammatory response, which is moderated by co-administration of Bi-26™.</p></sec>