Probiotic strains for use in improving the enteric nervous system

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of lactic acid bacteria, for use in modifying the enteric nervous system and more particularly in treating and/or preventing intestinal disorders such as constipation and/or irritable bowel disease.

1 . A method of:
 A. increasing vaso-active intestinal peptide (VIP) levels of the enteric nervous system, or   B. increasing Choline AcetylTransferase ImmunoReactive neurones (ChAT) levels of the enteric nervous system, or   C. decreasing ChAT levels of the enteric nervous system,   comprising administering to a subject a composition comprising at least one strain of bacteria selected from the group consisting of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria,   wherein the strain of bacteria is selected from the group consisting of the following strains:
 DN — 173 — 010 deposited under Accession No. 1-2494 with Collection Nationale De Cultures De Micro-Organismes (CNCM) on Jun. 20, 2000, 
 DN — 156 — 007 deposited under Accession No. 1-2219 with CNCM on May 31, 1999, and 
 DN — 119 — 0118 deposited under Accession No. 1-4279 with CNCM on Feb. 25, 2010. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition:
 increases VIP, provided that ChAT is not increased, or   increases ChAT, provided that VIP is not increased,   decreases ChAT, provided that VIP is not decreased, or   decreases ChAT and decreases VIP.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition is administered to the subject for:
 treatment and/or prevention of an intestinal disorder, or   treatment and/or prevention of a disorder selected from the group consisting of constipation and irritable bowel syndrome C (IBS-C), or   treatment and/or prevention of a disorder selected from the group consisting of diarrhoea, intestinal infection, IBS-D, IBS-PI, and IBD, or   treatment and/or prevention of a disorder selected from the group consisting of IBS and inflammatory bowel Disease (IBD), or   treatment and/or prevention of disorders found in elderly people, infants, and obese people.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition:
 A. increases VIP levels of the enteric nervous system, and is used in treatment and/or prevention of an intestinal disorder, or   B. increases ChAT levels of the enteric nervous system, and is used in treatment and/or prevention of a disorder selected form the group consisting of constipation and IBS-C, or   C. decreases ChAT levels of the enteric nervous system, and is used in treatment and/or prevention of a disorder selected from the group consisting of diarrhoea, IBS-D, IBS-PI, IBD.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition:
 A3 increases VIP provided that ChAT is not increased, and is administered to a subject for:
 treatment and/or prevention of a disorder selected from the group consisting of IBS and IBD, or 
 treatment and/or prevention of disorders found in elderly people, infants, or obese people. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition:
 B3. increases ChAT, provided that VIP is not increased, and is administered to a subject for treatment and/or prevention of a disorder selected form the group consisting of constipation and IBS-C.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition:
 C3. decreases ChAT, provided that VIP is not decreased, and is administered to a subject for treatment and/or prevention of a disorder selected form the group consisting of constipation and IBS-C.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition:
 C2. decreases ChAT and decreases VIP, and is administered to a subject for treatment and/or prevention of a disorder selected from the group consisting of diarrhoea, intestinal infections, IBS-D, IBS-PI, and IBD.   
     
     
         9 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said composition is administered to the subject for improving gastro-intestinal motility, improving intestinal peristalsis and/or decreasing intestinal permeability. 
     
     
         19 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a fermented milk product. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the fermented milk product is a yogurt.