Introduction: The use of probiotics has been broadly popularized due to positive effects in the attenuation of aberrant immune responses such as asthma. Allergic asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation and remodelling. Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of oral administration of Lactococcus lactis NZ9000 on asthmatic airway inflammation and lung tissue remodelling in rats and its relation to the maintenance of an adequate intestinal barrier. Methods: Wistar rats were ovalbumin (OVA) sensitized and challenged and orally treated with L. lactis. Lung inflammatory infiltrates and cytokines were measured, and remodelling was evaluated. Serum OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels were assessed. We also evaluated changes on intestinal environment and on systemic immune response. Results: L. lactis diminished the infiltration of proinflammatory leucocytes, mainly eosinophils, in the bronchoalveolar compartment, decreased lung IL-4 and IL-5 expression, and reduced the level of serum allergen-specific IgE. Furthermore, L. lactis prevented eosinophil influx, collagen deposition, and goblet cell hyperplasia in lung tissue. In the intestine, L. lactis-treated asthmatic rats increased Peyer’s patch and goblet cell quantity and mRNA expression of IgA, MUC-2, and claudin. Additionally, intestinal morphological alterations were normalized by L. lactis administration. Splenocyte proliferative response to OVA was abolished, and serum levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were increased by L. lactis treatment. Conclusions: These findings suggest that L. lactis is a potential candidate for asthma prevention, and the effect is mediated by the improvement of intestinal barrier function and systemic TGF-β production.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol

中文翻译：

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乳酸乳球菌 NZ9000 通过改善肠道屏障功能和全身性 TGF-β 产生来预防大鼠哮喘气道炎症和重塑

简介：益生菌的使用已被广泛普及，因为它在减弱异常免疫反应（如哮喘）方面具有积极作用。过敏性哮喘是一种以气道炎症和重塑为特征的慢性呼吸道疾病。目的：本研究旨在评估口服乳酸乳球菌NZ9000对大鼠哮喘气道炎症和肺组织重塑的影响及其与维持适当肠道屏障的关系。方法：对Wistar 大鼠进行卵清蛋白 (OVA) 致敏和激发，并用乳酸乳球菌口服治疗. 测量肺部炎症浸润和细胞因子，并评估重塑。评估了血清 OVA 特异性免疫球蛋白 (Ig) E 水平。我们还评估了肠道环境和全身免疫反应的变化。结果： 乳酸乳球菌减少了支气管肺泡隔室中促炎性白细胞（主要是嗜酸性粒细胞）的浸润，降低了肺 IL-4 和 IL-5 的表达，并降低了血清过敏原特异性 IgE 的水平。此外，乳酸乳球菌可防止肺组织中的嗜酸性粒细胞流入、胶原沉积和杯状细胞增生。在肠道中，乳酸乳球菌治疗的哮喘大鼠增加了派尔氏斑和杯状细胞数量以及 IgA、MUC-2 和密蛋白的 mRNA 表达。此外，通过乳酸乳杆菌给药使肠道形态改变正常化。脾细胞对 OVA 的增殖反应被消除，血清转化生长因子 (TGF)-β 水平通过乳酸乳球菌处理增加。结论：这些发现表明乳酸乳球菌是预防哮喘的潜在候选者，其作用是通过改善肠道屏障功能和全身 TGF-β 产生介导的。
Int Arch 过敏免疫