Fig. 5: Expression of cytokines by cord blood monocytes after stimulation with Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum or Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum in combination.

CBMC were isolated, cultured overnight and stimulated with Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA), Bifidobacterium bifidum (BB) or Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum in combination (LA + BB) in a MOI of 1:0.1 and 1:1 for 1 h. Afterwards brefeldin was added and cells were cultured for another four hours. Cells stimulated with LPS alone served as control. Expression of IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α and TGF-β was determined after intracellular staining by flow cytometry. a–l Scatter plots with bars show percentages of cord blood monocytes expressing and mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) for expression of IL-1β (a, e, i), IL-8 (b, f, j), TNF-α (c, g, k) and TGF-β (d, h, l) of unstimulated monocytes (white bars) and after stimulation with LA (a–d), BB (e–h) and LA + BB (i–l) in a MOI of 1:1 (striped/checked bars). n = 5­–7, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ns not significant; Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test (for percentages) and paired t test (for MFIs).