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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Dec 30;17(1):101.
doi: 10.3390/nu17010101.

Lactobacillus helveticus Induces Two Types of Dendritic Cell Activation and Effectively Suppresses Onset of the Common Cold: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Hiroka Wada  1 , Takashi Mawatari  1 , Yasuo Saito  1 , Naoki Azuma  1 , Yoshitaka Iwama  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Lactobacillus helveticus Induces Two Types of Dendritic Cell Activation and Effectively Suppresses Onset of the Common Cold: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Hiroka Wada et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background/objectives: Lactobacillus helveticus GCL1815 is a lactic acid bacterium thought to activate dendritic cells. This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study aimed to evaluate the effects of L. helveticus GCL1815 on human dendritic cells and the onset of the common cold.

Methods: Two hundred participants were divided into two groups and took capsules containing either six billion L. helveticus GCL1815 cells or placebo for 8 weeks.

Results: In the GCL1815 group, the cumulative incidence days of symptoms such as feverishness, fatigue, tiredness, runny nose, nasal congestion, and phlegm were significantly lower than in the placebo group. Moreover, the change in the expression of HLA-DR on plasmacytoid dendritic cells was significantly higher in the GCL1815 group than in the placebo group at 4 and 8 weeks of intake. The expression of CD86 on plasmacytoid dendritic cells was significantly increased in the GCL1815 group at 4 and 8 weeks compared with before intake. Additionally, the expression of HLA-DR on type 1 conventional dendritic cells was significantly higher in the GCL1815 group than in the placebo group at 8 weeks of intake. The expression of CD86 on type 1 conventional dendritic cells significantly decreased in the placebo group but remained statistically the same in the GCL1815 group after intake compared with before.

Conclusions: These results suggest that GCL1815 intake may enhance the response to viruses by activating two types of dendritic cells, thereby preventing the onset of systemic and local common colds in healthy adults.

Keywords: Lactobacillus; Lactobacillus helveticus GCL1815; common cold; dendritic cell; humans; lactic acid bacteria; postbiotics; symptom.

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Conflict of interest statement

H.W., T.M., Y.S., and N.A. are employees of Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd. Y.I. reports no conflict of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of study participation. GCL1815 group, Lactobacillus helveticus GCL1815 group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Expression levels of HLA-DR and CD86 on pDCs. Data are means, with the standard errors represented by vertical bars for each group. (A) Expression levels of (i) HLA-DR and (ii) CD86 on pDCs. (B) Change in the expression levels of (i) HLA-DR and (ii) CD86 on pDCs from before intake. The GCL1815 group and the placebo group consisted of 37 and 40 healthy adults, respectively, at 8 weeks. Comparisons of pre- and post-intake within each group were performed using paired t-tests, and comparisons between the two groups were performed using unpaired t-tests. GCL1815, Lactobacillus helveticus GCL1815 group; Placebo, placebo group; MFI, mean fluorescence intensity. * p < 0.05.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Expression levels of HLA-DR and CD86 on cDC1s and cDC2s. Data are means, with the standard errors represented by vertical bars for each group. (A) Expression levels of (i) HLA-DR and (ii) CD86 on cDC1s. (B) Change in the expression levels of (i) HLA-DR and (ii) CD86 on cDC1s from before intake. (C) Expression levels of (i) HLA-DR and (ii) CD86 on cDC2s. (D) Change in the expression levels of (i) HLA-DR and (ii) CD86 on cDC2s from before intake. The GCL1815 group and the placebo group consisted of 37 and 40 healthy adults, respectively, at 8 weeks. Comparisons of pre- and post-intake within each group were performed using paired t-tests, and comparisons between the two groups were performed using unpaired t-tests. GCL1815, Lactobacillus helveticus GCL1815 group; Placebo, placebo group; MFI, mean fluorescence intensity. * p < 0.05, # p < 0.1.
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