• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2018

Although there has been a steady increase in the prevalence of food allergies worldwide in recent decades, no effective therapeutic strategies have been developed. Modulation of the gut microbiota composition and/or function through probiotics has been highlighted as a promising target for protection against food allergies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the allergy-reducing effects of a probiotic mixture (P5: Lactococcus lactis KF140, Pediococcus pentosaceus KF159, Lactobacillus pentosus KF340, Lactobacillus paracasei 698, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 26N) in mice with ovalbumin (OVA)-induced food allergy. Administration of P5 significantly suppressed the oral OVA challenge-induced anaphylactic response and rectal temperature decline, and reduced diarrhea symptoms. Moreover, P5 also significantly inhibited the secretion of IgE, Th2 cytokines (interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13), and Th17 cytokines (IL-17), which were increased in mice with OVA-induced food allergy, and induced generation of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. These results revealed that P5 may have applications as a preventive agent against food allergy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1393-1400
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• 2008

Recent study has demonstrated an increasing prevalence of food allergy in Korean children. Specific probiotic bacteria may promote potentially anti-allergenic processes through induction of Th1-type immunity and enhance the regulatory lymphocyte. This study investigated whether orally administrated probiotics could suppress allergic responses in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergy mouse model. Thus, female C3H/HeJ mice were orally sensitized with OVA and cholera toxin for 4 weeks. Lactobacillus acidophilus AD031, Bifidobacterium lactis AD011, and L. acidophilus AD031 plus B. lactis AD011 were fed to mice from 2 weeks before the sensitization. The OVA-induced mice that were not treated with probiotics had significantly increased serum levels of OVA-specific IgE and IgG1, and OVA-specific IgA in feces. However, the mice treated with probiotics suppressed production of the OVA-specific IgE, IgG1, and IgA. The level of IL-4 was significantly lower, and the levels of INF-$\gamma$ and IL-10 were significantly higher in the mice treated with probiotics than that in the non-treated mice. The groups treated with probiotics had decreased levels of degranulated mast cells, eosinophil granules, and tail scabs. These results indicate that L. acidophilus AD031 and B. lactis AD011 might be useful for the prevention of allergy.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1210-1223
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• 2018

Background/Aims: The co-occurrence of obesity aggravates asthma symptoms. Diet-induced obesity increases helper T cell (TH) 17 cell differentiation in adipose tissue and the spleen. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor pravastatin can potentially be used to treat asthma in obese patients by inhibiting interleukin 17 (IL-17) expression. This study investigated the combined effects of pravastatin and anti-IL-17 antibody treatment on allergic inflammation in a mouse model of obesity-related asthma. Methods: High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity was induced in C57BL/6 mice with or without ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge. Mice were administered the anti-IL-17 antibody, pravastatin, or both, and pathophysiological and immunological responses were analyzed. Results: HFD exacerbated allergic airway inflammation in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of HFD-OVA mice as compared to OVA mice. Blockading of the IL-17 in the HFD-OVA mice decreased airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation compared to the HFD-OVA mice. Moreover, the administration of the anti-IL-17 antibody decreased the leptin/adiponectin ratio in the HFD-OVA but not the OVA mice. Co-administration of pravastatin and anti-IL-17 inhibited airway inflammation and AHR, decreased goblet cell numbers, and increased adipokine levels in obese asthmatic mice. Conclusions: These results suggest that the IL-17-leptin/adiponectin axis plays a key role in airway inflammation in obesity-related asthma. Our findings suggest a potential new treatment for IL-17 as a target that may benefit obesity-related asthma patients who respond poorly to typical asthma medications.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.545-551
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• 2013

This study aimed to present a mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA) induced allergic diarrhea under a sub-barrier system and investigate the development of gut microbiota in this model. Male BALB/c mice were systemically sensitized with OVA or sham-sensitized with saline, and followed by oral OVA intubation, leading to OVA-specific acute diarrhea. Compared with sham-sensitized mice, sera OVA-specific IgG1 and total IgE in OVA-sensitized mice were dramatically elevated, and the number of mast cells was greatly increased in the jejunum of the OVA-sensitized mice. Principle component analysis of the DGGE profile showed that samples from group of OVA-sensitized mice and group of sham-sensitized mice were scattered into two different regions. Real-time PCR analysis showed that the number of 16S rRNA gene copies of Lactobacillus in the colon of OVA-sensitized mice decreased significantly, while there was no significant difference in the number of Bifidobacterium and total bacteria. In conclusion, OVA-specific allergic diarrhea was successfully induced under a sub-barrier system, and changes of allergic reactions during induction was coupled with changes in gut microbiota, especially the number of colonic Lactobacillus, but the role of gut microbiota in the development of food allergic reactions needs to be further evaluated.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.512-521
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• 2022

Since the main symptoms of COVID-19 involve the respiratory system, the infection rate of this disease is predicted to be higher in patients with other respiratory conditions such as allergic rhinitis. In such a situation, it will be meaningful to conduct research on an allergy treatment that has fewer side effects and can effectively reduce allergy symptoms. Here, we prepared experimental samples under various fermentation conditions with mixed extracts of six medicinal plants. To examine the anti-allergic efficacy of these samples, an egg albumin-induced allergic rhinitis animal model experiment, a serum histamine and IgE experiment, and a COX and LO inhibitory activity experiment were conducted. As a result of animal experiments, OVA+SP-4 showed superior efficacy compared to OVA+SP-1 in nasal rubbing and sneezing experiments and had anti-allergic efficacy similar to that of OVA-cetirizine. The serum histamine concentration of OVA+SP-4 was also 1.3 times higher than that of the OVA+cetirizine group, showing a high histamine reduction ability, and IgE showed the same trend. An analysis of COX inhibitory efficacy also confirmed that COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory efficacy is high, and the longer the fermentation time, the higher the antiallergic efficacy. The composition proposed by this study is expected to have a significant effect on sustainable allergy prevention and treatment in the future by applying it to human patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.612-617
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• 2005

Astragali Radix(AR), is a popular tonic herb prescribed for 'insufficient qi' in Korea, Japan and China. The present study examined the effect of AR ethanol extract on ovalubumin induced allergic mouse model. AR administration reduced levels of IFN-gamma, Interleukin(IL)-4, IL-5 and total IgE in the OVA induced allergic inflammation. It also protected the upper airway respiratory epithelium from being damaged by the OVA induced inflammation. Taken together, our results showed that the use of AR alone proved to down-regulate Th1 and Th2 cytokine production and play a protective role in tissue damage in allergic disease.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.581-589
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• 2006

These studies were investigated the effects of Gamicheungpyehwadam-tang (CPHDT) on immune-cell regulation in association with bronchial asthma in OVA-induced mouse model. The administration of 400 mg/kg CPHDT significantly reduced the number of total cells in lung, peripheral lymph node and spleen in OVA-induced bronchial asthma mouse model. The administration of 400 mg/kg CPHDT significantly reduced $CD3^+,{\;}CD19^+$and $CD3^+,{\;}CD69^+$ cell numbers separated from lung, peripheral lymph node and spleen in OVA-induced bronchial asthma mouse model. CPHDT significantly reduced $CD3^+/CCR3^+,{\;}CD4^+,{\;}B220^+/IgE^+$, and $CD3^+/DX5^+$ cell numbers separated from lung, peripheral lymph node and spleen in OVA-induced bronchial asthma mouse model in a dose dependent manner, However, CPHDT significantly reduced $CD8^+$ cell numbers from only lung and spleen. The administration of CPHDT significantly reduced $NK^+$ cell numbers separated from lung of OVA-induced bronchial asthma mouse model in all concentrations, but 200 mg/kg CPHDT reduced $NK^+$ cell numbers separated from peripheral lymph node. These results suggest that CPHDT has anti-asthma and anti-allergy effects. In addition to, CPHDT may be useful treatment of asthma based on the further studies about the individual efficacy search of the components of CPHDT and the adding of variety drugs to CPHDT.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.451-459
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• 2024

Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is an upstream signaling molecule in oxidative stress-induced responses. Because oxidative stress is involved in asthma pathogenesis, ASK1 gene deficiency was investigated in animal models of allergic asthma. However, there is no study to investigate whether ASK1 inhibitors could be applied for asthma to date. Selonsertib, a potent and selective ASK1 inhibitor, was applied to BALB/c mice of an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma model. Selonsertib suppressed antigen-induced degranulation of RBL-2H3 mast cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The administration of selonsertib both before OVA sensitization and OVA challenge significantly reduced airway hyperresponsiveness, and suppressed eosinophil numbers and inflammatory cytokine levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Histopathologic examination elucidated less inflammatory responses and reduced mucin-producing cells around the peribronchial regions of the lungs. Selonsertib also suppressed the IgE levels in serum and the protein levels of IL-13 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. These results suggest that selonsertib may ameliorate allergic asthma by suppressing immune responses and be applicable to allergic asthma.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.611-618
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• 2023

Rhizome of Alisma orientale has been used as a traditional medicine for treating kidney diseases in East Asian countries. Its inhibitory effects on hypersensitivity responses have been reported for methanol extracts, with alisol B 23-acetate (AB23Ac) being the most active constituent among six terpenes in inhibiting the direct passive Arthus reaction. However, whether AB23Ac has efficacy against allergic asthma has not been tested to date. The in vivo efficacy of AB23Ac in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma mouse model was evaluated by administrating AB23Ac before OVA sensitization or OVA challenge in BALB/c mice. AB23Ac suppressed antigen-induced degranulation of RBL-2H3 mast cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The administration of AB23Ac both before OVA sensitization and OVA challenge greatly lowered pulmonary resistance and the increase in immune cell counts and inflammatory responses around the peribronchial and perivascular regions. In addition, the inflammatory cytokine levels of Th1/Th2/Th17 cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid decreased in the AB23Ac-treated groups. AB23Ac reduced the number of PAS-stained cells in the lungs. Furthermore, a computer modeling study indicated that AB23Ac can bind tightly to spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk). These results suggest that AB23Ac may ameliorate allergic asthma by suppressing immune responses in dendritic cells during sensitization and in mast cells during challenge periods.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.96-103
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• 2008

Objectives : Tongqiao-tang(TQT) has been commonly used for the treatment of common cold, rhinitis etc. Nowadays, TQT becomes one of the most frequently used medicines for allergic rhinitis, but the mechanism of TQT in vivo isn't investigated yet. This study was performed to investigate the effect of TQT on OVA-induced allergic rhinitis mouse model by calculating serum cytokines and IgE. Methods : 8 weeks aged male BALB/c mice were divided into three groups: the normal group, the control group and the medicated group (the TQT group). Each group was consisted of 15 mice. The TQT group was administered TQT extract orally one time a day (1g/kg) from the $1^{st}$ day of experiment till the $26^{th}$ day. The control group and the normal group were administered normal saline by the same method of the TQT group. To induce the allergic rhinitis in the control group and the TQT group, mice of each group were sensitized intraperitoneally with ovalbumin (OVA) solution at the $1^{st}$, the $7^{th}$ and the $14^{th}$ day. After then, intranasal sensitization was performed by dropping 0.1% OVA solution in nasal cavity at the $22^{th}$, the $24^{th}$ and the $26^{th}$ day. At the $27^{th}$ day, the mice were killed and the changes of interferon-${\gamma}$, interleukin-4, interleukin-5, total IgE and OVA-specific IgE were checked. Results : IFN-${\gamma}$ was increased 36% more in the TQT group than that in the control group. IL-4, IL-5, the total IgE and OVA-specific IgE were decreased in the TQT group as compared with the control group and these results were statistically significant. Conclusions : Considering the above experimental results, this study showed that TQT could reduce the allergic reaction in allergic rhinitis. Advanced studies are required to investigate the further mechanisms of TQT.