The combination of 2-fucosyllactose with short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides that enhance influenza vaccine responses is associated with mucosal immune regulation in mice

Background: A critical role for host-microbe interactions and establishment of vaccine responses has been postulated. Human milk oligosaccharides, of which 2-fucosyllactose (2FL) is the most prevalent, are known to alter host-associated microbial communities and play a critical role in the immunologic development of breastfed infants. Objectives: Dietary supplementation with a combination of 2FL and prebiotic short-chain (sc) galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and long-chain (lc) fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) was employed to examine human milk oligosaccharide effects on immune responsiveness, within a murine influenza vaccination model. Methods: Female mice (6 wk old, C57Bl/6JOlaHsd) were fed either control diet (CON) or scGOS/lcFOS/2FL-containing diet (GF2F) for 45 d. After starting dietary intervention (day 14), mice received a primary influenza vaccination (day 0) followed by a booster vaccination (day 21), after which ear challenges were conducted to measure vaccine-specific delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH). Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, fecal and cecal microbial community structure, short-chain fatty acids, host intestinal gene expression and cellular responses in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were also measured. Results: Relative to CON, mice fed the GF2F diet had increased influenza vaccine–specific DTH responses (79.3%; P < 0.01), higher levels of both IgG1 (3.2-fold; P < 0.05) and IgG2a (1.2-fold; P < 0.05) in serum, and greater percentages of activated B cells (0.3%; P < 0.05), regulatory T cells (1.64%; P < 0.05), and T-helper 1 cells (2.2%; P < 0.05) in their MLNs. GF2F-fed mice had elevated cecal butyric (P < 0.05) and propionic (P < 0.05) acid levels relative to CON, which correlated to DTH responses (R² = 0.22; P = 0.05 and R² = 0.39; P < 0.01, respectively). Specific fecal microbial taxa altered in GF2F diet fed mice relative to CON were significantly correlated with the DTH response and IgG2a level increases. Conclusions: Dietary GF2F improved influenza vaccine–specific T-helper 1 responses and B cell activation in MLNs and enhanced systemic IgG1 and IgG2a concentrations in mice. These immunologic changes are correlated with microbial community structure and metabolites.