Study of the mechanisms exerted by fructooligosaccharides from Yacon in an intestinal infection model

Abstract

Fructooligosacharides (FOS), obtained from Yacon roots, have a prebiotic effect when used as a dietary supplement. We studied if FOS from Yacón can prevent enteric infection against Salmonella Typhimurium and the mechanism involved. BALB/c mice were divided into 4 groups: normal control, Basal (45days with FOS-340mg/kg/day), infection control (IC?without FOS administration) and treated group (TG?45d with FOS+S. Typhimurium); IC and TG groups were challenged at days 15, 30 and 45 with S. Typhimurium. Translocation to liver and spleen, total and specific s-IgA, IgA+, TLR4+, CD206+, IL6+, TNFalfa, IFNgamma and MIP 1alfa + cells were analyzed after challenge. We found protection only at 30 days of FOS administration with an increase in the total s-IgA but not in the specific s-IgA levels for TG compared with IC group. In TG as regard IC group the N° IgA+, TLR4+, CD206+, IL6+ and MIP 1alfa+, TNFalfa and IFNgamma cells were increased. We demonstrate that FOS from Yacón roots prevent S. Typhimurium infections up to 30 days of administration through non-specific immunity with increased total s-IgA, expression of TLR4 and CD206 receptors and IL6+ and MIP1alfa + cells, that would improve immunological barrier mechanisms against S. Typhimurium infection.