Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2012 Dec;22(4):325-335.

Probiotics as an Immune Modulator for Allergic Disorders

• Hwang JS
• Im SH

Abstract

Allergic disorders such as atopic dermatitis and asthma are common hyperimmune disorders in industrialized countries. Although the exact etiology is unclear, several factors may trigger the disease onset. These include susceptible genetic background, environmental factors and an aberrant gut microbiota with a shift of the Th1/Th2 balance towards a Th2 response. Probiotics confer health benefits through multiple action mechanisms including modification of immune system in both systemic immune system and gut associated lymphoid tissue. Although many human clinical trials and mouse studies demonstrated the beneficial effects of probiotics in diverse allergic disorders, therapeutic efficacy is quite diverse depending on administration dose and types of strains or their mixture. To properly modulate allergic diseases, administration of tailor made probiotics with immune tolerance activity is required. Human clinical trials demonstrate a limited benefit of probiotics in atopic dermatitis in a preventive as well as a therapeutic capacity. In addition, beneficial effect of probiotics treatment is limited in the treatment of bronchial asthma. Identification of specific probiotics that has immune modulating activity and elucidation of the underlying mechanism of action will lead to develop probiotics as an as immune modulator targeting allergic disorders. Herein, we briefly review the diverse functions and regulation mechanisms of probiotics in allergic disorders including atopic dermatitis and asthma.

Keyword

Probiotics; Immune system; Gut-associated lymphoid tissue; Cytokine; Atopic dermatitis; Asthma

MeSH Terms

Animals
Asthma
Dermatitis, Atopic
Developed Countries
Humans
Immune System
Immune Tolerance
Insurance Benefits
Lymphoid Tissue
Metagenome
Mice
Probiotics

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