Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9899
ISSN: 2155-9899
Tong-Rong Jan, Hong-Jen Liang and Chung-Hsiung Huang
National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Yuanpei University, Taiwan
National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, Taiwan
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Clin Cell Immunol
Previous results showed that Lactobacillus murinus was capable of colonizing in the porcine gastrointestinal tract, suggesting its potential as a probiotic in vivo. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-allergic and immunomodulatory effects of L. murinus using a murine model of food allergy. BALB/c mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) by intraperitoneal injection and then repeatedly challenged with OVA by gavage to induce allergic responses. Allergic diarrhea and immune parameters associated with food allergy were monitored. The density of enteric flora, including lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and non-specific bacteria was also measured. Daily oral administration with L. murinus restored the diminished density of fecal LAB and markedly attenuated the occurrence of allergic diarrhea, mast cell infiltration and degranulation in the intestine and serum IgE production in allergic mice. The expression of IL-4 by splenocytes was down-regulated, whereas the level of IFN-���³ was up-regulated by L. murinus. Concordantly, a decreased expression of IL-4 and GATA3 and an increased expression of IFN-���³ and T-bet were observed in the duodenum of allergic mice-administered with L. murinus. Moreover, L. murinus enhanced IL-12 production and suppressed OX40 ligand expression by intestinal CD11c+ cells. Taken together, these results demonstrated that oral administration with L. murinus modulated intestinal CD11c+ cell functionality, promoted T-helper 1 polarization, suppressed IgE production and attenuated allergic responses which were closely associated with the maintenance of enteric LAB density. These findings suggest that L. murinus may be exploited as an immunoactive probiotics against food allergy.