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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Jun 12.
Published in final edited form as: For Immunopathol Dis Therap. 2016;7(1-2):41–55. doi: 10.1615/ForumImmunDisTher.2016017095

TABLE 1.

Summary of probiotics and their effects on NK cells and immunity

Probiotic strain Activity in the immune system Cytokines produced Other comments
LcS Monocytes potentiate increased NK cell activity via LcS induction6 IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, GM-CSF, and MIP-1α6,87 Induced expression of CD69 and CD25 on CD8+ and CD56+ subsets of NK cells6
Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB8826 Increased expression of CD69 and CD25 in NK cells, enhancing activation of NK cells87 IL12p70, IFN-γ, TNF-α, MIP-1α, IL-1β, GM-CSF, and IL-887 Up-regulation of MHC-II (HLA-DR) and CD80; induced phenotypic maturation of DCs84
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) Did not increase expression of CD69 or CD25 in lymphocytes87 IL-1β, IL-8, and GM-CSF87 Up-regulation of MHC-II (HLA-DR) and CD80; induced phenotypic maturation of DCs84
Lactobacillus paracasei B21060 Anti-inflammatory effect on DCs84 TGF-β, TNF-α, and IL-12p7084 Up-regulation of MHC-II (HLA-DR) and CD80; induced phenotypic maturation of DCs84
Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB11951 Increased expression of CD69 and CD25 in NK cells, enhancing activation of NK cells87 Increased expression of CD69 and CD25 in NK cells, enhancing activation of NK cells87
Bifidobacterium longum SP 07/3 Increased expression of CD69 and CD25 in NK cells, enhancing activation of NK cells87 Increased expression of CD69 and CD25 in NK cells, enhancing activation of NK cells87 Good inducer of IFN-γ; Bifidobacterium strains were good inducers of IL-6, IL-10, and MCP-187
Bifidobacterium bifidium MF 20/5 Increased expression of CD69 and CD25 in NK cells, enhancing activation of NK cells87 IL-1β, TNF-α, GM-CSF, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, MCP-1, and MIP-1α87 Good inducer of GM-CSF; Bifidobacterium strains were good inducers of IL-6, IL-10, and MCP-187
Bacillus polyfermenticus (Bispan strain) Increased levels of CD56+subset of NK cells68 No cytokine expression levels reported Enhanced levels of IgG production and modulation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells68

CD, Cluster of differentiation (cell); DC, dendritic cell; GM-CSF, granulocyte macrophage–colony-stimulating factor; HLA-DR, human leukocyte antigen D related; IFN-γ, interferon-γ; IgA, immunoglobulin a; IL, interleukin; LcS, Lactobacillus casei Shirota; MHC-II, major histocompatibility complex class II; MIP-1α macrophage inflammatory protein–1α; NK, natural killer; TGF-β, transforming growth factor-β; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor–α