Multispecies probiotics combination prevents ovalbumin-induced airway hyperreactivity in mice

Abstract

Background: Probiotics could be beneficial to health and some of them have shown to modulate immune responses.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate if the probiotic strains including Lactobacillus and Pediococcus strains are able to alleviate allergic reactions in an ovalbumin-induced airway allergy model.

Methods: Lactobacillus multi-species preparation (LMP) was gavaged to BALB/c for total six weeks and BALB/c was challenged with ovalbumin in the last two weeks. A barometric whole-body plethysmography was used to assess enhanced pause (Penh) of airway hyperreactivity (AHR). Immunoglobulins (Ig) such as IgE, IgG1, IgG2a and cytokines such as IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, TNF-α and IL-13 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were assayed using ELISA kits.

Results: The results showed this LMP significantly reduced Th2 cytokines and enhanced Th1 cytokines production. OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 was lower in the probiotics-treated mice whereas IgG2a was increased. Most importantly, this murine model showed LMP supplementation significantly reduced AHR.

Conclusions: Overall, this Lactobacillus multi-species preparation seemed to suppress OVA-sensitized airway hyperreactivity, thus serving as a possible candidate for therapeutic uses for allergic airway symptoms.

Keywords: Airway hyperreactivity; Anti-allergy; Lactobacillus plantarum; Pediococcus acidilactici.