Treatment of Murine Colitis by Lactococcus lactis Secreting Interleukin-10

The cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) has shown promise in clinical trials for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Using two mouse models, we show that the therapeutic dose of IL-10 can be reduced by localized delivery of a bacterium genetically engineered to secrete the cytokine. Intragastric administration of IL-10–secreting Lactococcus lactis caused a 50% reduction in colitis in mice treated with dextran sulfate sodium and prevented the onset of colitis in IL-10 −/− mice. This approach may lead to better methods for cost-effective and long-term management of IBD in humans.