Probiotics: on-going research on atopic individuals

Abstract

The challenge for the modern health care system is to fight against the increasing prevalence of atopic disease. The introduction of scientifically composed probiotic functional foods for prophylactic or therapeutic purposes could be one solution. Probiotics are live microbial food supplements or components of bacteria which have beneficial effects on human health. Specific strains have been demonstrated to exert powerful anti-pathogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. The hygiene hypothesis suggests that atopic disease may arise from a lack of counterbalancing microbial exposure at an early age. The initial compositional development of the gut microflora is considered a key determinant of the development of both the immune responder phenotype and normal gut barrier functions. The regulatory role of probiotics in human allergic disease was first emphasised in the demonstration of a suppressive effect on lymphocyte proliferation and interleukin-4 generationin vitro. Subsequently, a significant improvement in the clinical course of atopic eczema was reported in infants given a probiotic-supplemented diet. The potential of probiotics to reduce the risk of atopic disease has recently been demonstrated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study: probiotics administered pre- and postnatally for 6 months to at-risk subjects reduced the prevalence of atopic eczema to half of that observed in infants receiving placebo. Ongoing research is directed towards the development of novel techniques to characterise the gut microflora. Future research will clarify the mechanisms to control specific physiological processes in the evolution of atopic disease in at-risk populations or in the management of allergic diseases.

IgA Antibodies, TGF-β1 and -β2, and Soluble CD14 in the Colostrum and Development of Atopy by Age 4

“…Another reported difference was the higher concentration of IL-4 in breast milk of allergic mother (15), a difference absent from the other study (34). Total IgA and CM-specific IgA in the milk of mothers with or without allergic diseases have been similar (26,35), and this was true also in the present study.…”

Exposure of Intestinal Epithelial Cells to UV-Killed <i>Lactobacillus GG </i>but Not <i>Bifidobacterium breve </i>Enhances the Effector Immune Response in vitro

“…In food-allergic patients, allergens entering the gut fail to elicit oral tolerance and activate the adaptive immune system resulting in a T helper (Th) 2 polarized inflammation [1]. It has been suggested that differences in the composition of the gut microbiota might be related to the aberrant development of the immune system, leading to allergic diseases [2]. …”

Effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus Strain L-55 on Experimental Allergic Rhinitis in BALB/c Mice

“…[4][5][6] Although the etiology of allergic disease is still unclear, disturbance of the intestinal microflora, especially endogenous lactic acid bacteria, has been regarded as one of the important reasons related to allergic diseases. [7][8][9] Accordingly, improvement of the intestinal environment by the intake of probiotic lactic acid bacteria is considered effective for modulation of the immune system.…”