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Lactobacillus paracaseiRANK: SpeciesTAXONOMY: Terrabacteria group -> Firmicutes -> Bacilli -> Lactobacillales -> Lactobacillaceae -> Lactobacillus -> Lactobacillus paracasei OVERVIEW: L. paracasei is a robust strain found in the small intestine. It may also colonize in the colon if taken along with milk protein, which increases its resistance to stomach acid. This probiotic strain has the unique ability to support liver function. A prospective randomized study found that supplementation with a mixture of fiber and probiotics, which included L. paracasei, lowered urine pH and improved liver function in half of subjects. Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM I-4034 (and its supernatant) has been found to dramatically reduce the production of the Th1 cytokines, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in human intestinal DCs challenged with Salmonella typhi. Dendritic cells cultured with Lactobacillus casei have also been found to shift their cytokine profile in favor of IL-10, and are able to prevent type 1 diabetes development upon injection into non-obese diabetic mice – an animal model for type 1 (autoimmune) diabetes. Since a single injection of L casei-treated DCs is insufficient to mediate long-term protection, the mechanism in this case most likely involves the induction of regulatory cells. This species has been identified as a resident in the human gastrointestinal tract based on the phylogenetic framework of its small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences.[PMC 4262072] |