Oral probiotic bacterial administration suppressed allergic responses in an ovalbumin-induced allergy mouse model

FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2005 Aug 1;45(2):259-67. doi: 10.1016/j.femsim.2005.05.005.

Abstract

This study investigated whether orally administered probiotic bacteria (Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus casei) and a gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli) function as allergic immune modulators to prevent food allergy, according to the hygiene hypothesis. C3H/HeJ mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and cholera toxin for 5 weeks. After sensitization, the OVA-induced mice that were not treated with bacteria had significantly increased levels of OVA-specific IgE, total IgE, and IgG1 in sera, as well as scab-covered tails. In comparison, groups treated with B. bifidum BGN4 (BGN4), L. casei 911 (L. casei), or Escherichia coli MC4100 (E. coli) had decreased levels of OVA-specific IgE, total IgE, and IgG1, and decreased levels of mast cell degranulation and tail scabs. OVA-specific IgA levels were decreased in BGN4- and L. casei-treated groups. In conclusion, administration of E. coli, BGN4, or L. casei decreased the OVA-induced allergy response. However, a normal increase in body weight was inhibited in the E. coli-treated mice and in the montreated mice groups during allergy sensitization. Thus, BGN4 and L. casei appear to be useful probiotic bacteria for the prevention of allergy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Bifidobacterium
  • Body Weight
  • Cell Degranulation
  • Cholera Toxin / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Escherichia coli
  • Female
  • Food Hypersensitivity / etiology
  • Food Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Food Hypersensitivity / pathology
  • Food Hypersensitivity / therapy*
  • Immunity, Mucosal
  • Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulin E / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Lacticaseibacillus casei
  • Mast Cells / immunology
  • Mast Cells / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Ovalbumin / immunology*
  • Probiotics / administration & dosage
  • Probiotics / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin A, Secretory
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Ovalbumin
  • Cholera Toxin