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Health Benefits of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Kimchi, with Respect to Immunomodulatory Effects

요약

Kimchi is a traditional Korean fermented vegetable product, which is fermented by various lactic acid bacteria (LAB), including the genera Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus, and Weissella. While the immunomodulatory effects of LAB isolated from dairy products are relatively well established, little is known about whether kimchi LAB are capable of modulating a variety of host immune responses. Recent studies have shown that several kimchi LAB that show probiotic properties regulate the balance of T-helper cell response by inducing macrophage activation and enhance the differentiation and activation of regulatory T cells, resulting in the alleviation of allergies and atopic dermatitis in animal models. In this review, current knowledge will be discussed about the beneficial effects of kimchi LAB, including the effects of different strains on immunological functions, and the potential use of kimchi LAB strains as immunomodulators in various immunological settings for therapeutic purposes.