Effects of lysed Enterococcus faecalis FK-23 on experimental allergic rhinitis in a murine model

Publication date: May 2012 Source:Journal of Biomedical Research, Volume 26, Issue 3 Author(s): Luping Zhu , Takashi Shimada , Ruoxi Chen , Meiping Lu , Qingzhao Zhang , Wenmin Lu , Min Yin , Tadao Enomoto , Lei Cheng In the current study, we sought to investigate whether lysed Enterococcus faecalis FK-23 (LFK), a heat-killed probiotic preparation, attenuated eosinophil influx into the upper airway and had immunomodulatory activity in a murine allergic rhinitis model. Eighteen BALB/c mice were divided into three groups; the ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized/challenged group, which received saline orally for 6 weeks (OVA group), the OVA-sensitized/challenged group, which received LFK orally for 6 weeks (LFK-fed group), and the non-sensitized group, which received saline for 6 weeks (saline control group). Nasal rubbing and sneezing were monitored during the study. After the final challenge, interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-γ, and OVA-specific IgE levels in the sera and splenocyte culture supernatants were determined, eosinophilic infiltrate into the upper airway was quantified, and splenic CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) were examined by flow cytometry. We found that nasal rubbing was significantly reduced in LFK-fed mice compared to the OVA group on d 27 and 35, and sneezing was significantly inhibited by LFK administration for 35 d. LFK-fed mice had significantly less eosinophil influx into the nasal mucosa than the OVA group. There were no significant differ...
Source: Journal of Biomedical Research - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research