Cited by 104Probiotics and Fermented FoodsMicrobial Metabolites in Food BiotechnologyInfant Nutrition and Health

How can probiotics and prebiotics impact mucosal immunity?

Open access
O'Flaherty, Sarah, Saulnier, Delphine, Pot, Bruno, Versalovic, James·2010·Gut Microbes

Abstract

The study of probiotics and prebiotics is an expanding field of interest and scientific research that has resulted in insights related to the host immune response. Recent advances have naturally led to key questions. What are the specific probiotic components that mediate immunomodulation? Can we extrapolate the results of in vitro studies in animal and human trials? Which biomarkers and immune parameters should be measured in probiotic and prebiotic intervention studies? These questions were part of a discussion entitled "How Can Probiotics and Prebiotics Impact Mucosal Immunity" at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP). This review highlights recent knowledge about the modulation of mucosal immunity by probiotics and prebiotics, as well as considerations for measuring their effects on mucosal immunity. A list of biomarkers and immune parameters to be measured in human clinical trials is included.

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Crossref · 10.4161/gmic.1.5.12924

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  • Clinical efficacy of probiotics for allergic diseases is inconsistent due to substantial interindividual variability in lifestyle, microbiome composition, health status, gender, and age.

    “Although in vitro and in vivo studies suggest potential benefits, clinical efficacy is inconsistent due to substantial interindividual variability in lifestyle, microbiome composition, health status, gender, and age [89,90,91].”

    From Current Concepts in Probiotic Safety and Efficacy (2026) · cites this paper as [89]

    In “Can We Extrapolate Immunomodulatory Effects of Probiotics and Prebiotics In Vitro to Humans?” (page unavailable), the paper says differences in microbiomes, baseline immune function, diet, and stress can partly explain discrepancies between laboratory and in vivo results. It also identifies age, gender, and health status as factors affecting immune parameters. It does not establish that clinical efficacy specifically for allergic diseases is inconsistent because of those differences. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Authors
O'Flaherty, S., Saulnier, D., Pot, B., & Versalovic, J.
Affiliations
  • North Carolina State University (US)
  • Institut Pasteur de Lille (FR)
  • Baylor College of Medicine (US)
Corresponding author
Versalovic, James
Venue
Gut Microbes
Published
2010-09
Volume
1
Issue
5
Pages
293-300
ISSN
  • 1949-0976 (ISSN-L)
  • 1949-0984
OpenAlex
W2025868512
Cited by
103
References
74
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 11
FWCI
13.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • Gut Microbes (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • VUBIR (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK065075, P30DK056338)
  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (R01AT004326)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Microbial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Infant Nutrition and Health
Keywords
probiotics, prebiotics, mucosal immunity, immunomodulation, biomarkers, immunological parameters, clinical trial endpoints

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