Specific immunotherapy plus Clostridium butyricum alleviates ulcerative colitis in patients with food allergy

Abstract

The aberrant T cell activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation, such as ulcerative colitis (UC). C. butyricum (Cb) is a probiotic and has been employed in the treatment of immune diseases. This study tests a hypothesis that specific immunotherapy (SIT) plus oral Cb (an over-the-counter probiotic) alleviates the UC symptoms. In this study, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, clinical study at our hospital. A total of 80 patients with relapsing-remitting ulcerative colitis and high levels of specific IgE antibody was randomly divided into 4 groups, and were treated with SIT or/and Cb, or placebo, respectively for 1 year. The results showed that a food antigen-specific Th2 polarization immune response was observed in UC patients with food allergy (FA). The frequency of regulatory B cells was significantly less in UC patients with FA as compared with healthy subjects. The UC patients with FA were treated with SIT and Cb showed significant amelioration of UC clinical symptoms, reduction of using UC-control medicines, and suppression of the skewed Th2 polarization, which did not occur in those treated with either SIT alone, or Cb alone, or placebo. In conclusion, combination of SIT and Cb efficiently alleviates a fraction of UC patients.

Bcl2L12 Contributes to Th2-Biased Inflammation in the Intestinal Mucosa by Regulating CD4+ T Cell Activities

“…In this study, the data show that Th2 hyper response was observed in UC patients. This is in line with previous studies; cumulative reports indicate that the Th2 cytokines were significantly increased in both UC patients and colitis mice (8)(9)(10)(11)(12). The present study reveals a novel phenomenon that CD4 + T cell with Bcl2L12 overexpression is one of the factors contributing to the Th2-biased inflammation in the colon.…”

“…A portion of UC patients is sensitized to food allergens. Treatment with specific allergen immunotherapy attenuated the inflammation of UC (8,9). Yet, how the skewed Th2-dominant immune response initiated in the intestine still remains elusive.…”

“…Yet, how the skewed Th2-dominant immune response initiated in the intestine still remains elusive. Published data indicate a Th2dominant immune response in UC patients (8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Based on the available knowledge, how the skewed Th2 response occurs in UC patients is unclear.…”

Galacto-Oligosaccharide/Polidextrose Enriched Formula Protects against Respiratory Infections in Infants at High Risk of Atopy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…In our study, Clostridium cluster I load was specifically increased in prebiotics but not by other nutritional groups (including BF). Interestingly, non-toxigenic Clostridium I strains are currently used as probiotics in Asian countries [ 29 ] in combination with immunotherapy in asthmatic patients [ 30 ] in order to alleviate intestinal inflammation in ulcerative colitis in food allergy [ 31 ] and to treat intestinal dysbacteriosis in neonates [ 32 ].…”

The gut microbiome and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors: preclinical and clinical strategies

“…Examples of such manipulation have included probiotics, which are live microorganisms or biotherapeutic products that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host, and prebiotics, which are substrates such as carbohydrates or animal nutrition that are selectively used by host microorganisms to confer a potential health benefit. Clostridium butyricum , for instance, is a probiotic that has been shown to possess immunotherapeutic properties in cancer and gastrointestinal disorders [ 10 , 11 ]. Prebiotics and synbiotics, which is a mixture of prebiotics and probiotics, have also demonstrated putative beneficial effects in the treatment of a multitude of other health conditions [ 12 ].…”