Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2008 Sep;18(3):208-218.

The Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus on the Primary Prevention of Asthma in a Murine Asthmatic Model

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
  • 3Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea. hoonkook@chonnam.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE: Recent studies have demonstrated that probiotics are effective in the management of allergic diseases, but there have been few reports about their preventive effects in asthma. We examined the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) and its mechanism in the primary prevention of asthma.
METHODS
Before allergen sensitization, newborn Balb/c mice orally received 1x10(9) colony forming unit (CFU) LA per day every 2 days for consecutive 4 weeks starting from birth. After ovalbumin sensitization and challenge from day 36, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine, influx of inflammatory cells to the lung, serum total IgE levels, cytokine levels in the supernatant of splenocytes culture, and expression of FoxP3 mRNA in the peribronchial lymph nodes were assessed.
RESULTS
The AHR showed a tendency to decrease in LA group, however, there was no statistical significance. The eosinophil counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum total IgE were significantly reduced in LA group compared with asthma control group. LA effectively induced IFN-gamma secretion and inhibited IL-4, IL-5 and TGF-beta1 secretion compared with asthma control group. The expression of FoxP3 mRNA in peribronchial lymph nodes did not show any difference between LA and asthma control group.
CONCLUSION
Oral LA administration in murine model of asthma attenuated AHR and significantly suppressed eosinophilic inflammation in the airway. These effects of LA were mediated by suppressing Th2 immune response and enhancing Th1 immune response. The results may suggest the possible role of LA in the primary prevention of asthma.

Keyword

Probiotics; Lactobacillus acidophilus; Asthma; Prevention

MeSH Terms

Animals
Asthma
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
Eosinophils
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Infant, Newborn
Inflammation
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-5
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lung
Lymph Nodes
Methacholine Chloride
Mice
Ovalbumin
Parturition
Primary Prevention
Probiotics
RNA, Messenger
Stem Cells
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Immunoglobulin E
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-5
Methacholine Chloride
Ovalbumin
RNA, Messenger
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Full Text Links
  • PARD
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr