Expression of mRNA encoding IFNα in macrophages stimulated with Lactobacillus gasseri

Abstract

The ability of Lactobacillus gasseri, a dairy lactic acid bacterium, to induce interferon (IFN) was investigated in murine macrophage cultures. IFNα was substantially induced by some strais of L. gasseri and the titers were the highest at a concentration of 100 μg ml-1 of L. gasseri DSM20243T. The expression of mRNA encoding IFNα was detected in spleen-macrophages (SP-Mθ) and Peyer's patch-adherent cells stimulated with L. gasseri DSM20243T. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide added to SP-Mθ cultures showed that the mRNA was synthesized by 0.5 h, and that IFNα was produced within 3 to 6 h after the stimulation with L. gasseri DSM20243T. The results support the notion that dairy products containing L. gasseri can be 'physiologically functional foods'. © 1994.