Treatment of Murine Colitis by Lactococcus lactis Secreting Interleukin-10

• DOI: 10.1126/science.289.5483.1352
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:40:21Z
• Authors: Lothar Steidler; Wolfgang Hans; Lieven Schotte; Sabine Neirynck; Florian Obermeier; Werner Falk; Walter Fiers; Erik Remaut
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Colon; Probiotics; Dextran Sulfate; Biological Transport; Colitis; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Recombinant Proteins; Interleukin-10; 3. Good health; Lactococcus lactis; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Animals; Intestinal Mucosa

The cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) has shown promise in clinical trials for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Using two mouse models, we show that the therapeutic dose of IL-10 can be reduced by localized delivery of a bacterium genetically engineered to secrete the cytokine. Intragastric administration of IL-10–secreting Lactococcus lactis caused a 50% reduction in colitis in mice treated with dextran sulfate sodium and prevented the onset of colitis in IL-10 −/− mice. This approach may lead to better methods for cost-effective and long-term management of IBD in humans.