Here, the effects of heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis EF-2001 (EF-2001) on atopic eczema (AE) were assessed. An AE model was established in vivo by repetitious topical exposure to 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and dermatophagoidesfarinae extract (DFE) via application on each ear. Mice were administered EF-2001 orally for 4 weeks, dermal and epidermal ear thickness, mast cell infiltration of the ear tissue, and serum IgE and IgG2a levels were evaluated. Moreover, pathogenic cytokines levels of the ears, splenocytes, and cervical lymph nodes were determined. EF-2001 reduced AE symptoms grounded in the ear thickness, histopathological analysis, and serum IgE levels. Furthermore, EF-2001 attenuated mast cell infiltration in the ears and CDNB/DFE-induced various pathogenic cytokines levels of the ears, splenocytes and cervical lymph nodes. Thus, our data suggested that EF-2001 may have potential medicinal applications in the treatment of AE through its immunomodulatory properties.
Keywords: atopic eczema; heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis EF-2001; immunomodulatory properties; pathogenic cytokines.