Fig. 1.

Probiotics increase CD4⁺Foxp3⁺ Tregs. Foxp3 levels were analyzed by real-time PCR (A) or FACS (B) in SP and MLN CD4⁺ T cells from mice fed either PBS (Cont) or IRT5 (Pro) for 20 days. (C) Levels of Foxp3⁺ cells were analyzed in CD4⁺CD25⁺ and CD4⁺CD25⁻ populations. (D) Expression levels of Treg-associated molecules were compared in MLN CD4⁺CD25⁺ Tregs from each group. GrznB, Granzyme B. (E) Suppressor activity of CD4⁺CD25⁺ Tregs was measured by T-cell proliferation assay. Tregs from each treatment group (Cont or Pro) were cocultured with responder cells (CD4⁺CD25⁻) at various ratios of Treg/responder cells. The proliferation level of responder cells alone was assigned a value of 100%. Data are the average of three independent experiments (10 mice per group); error bars indicate SD. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.005; ***P < 0.001.