Modulation of Th1/Th2 balance by Lactobacillus strains isolated from Kimchi via stimulation of macrophage cell line J774A.1 in vitro

Lactobacilli isolated from Kimchi, a Korean traditional food, were tested for their capacity to modulate the T helper (Th) 1/Th2 balance. Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mouse splenocytes were cultured with 26 strains of lactobacilli; the highest IL-12 induction and lowest IL-4 production were then observed in 4 strains, including Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP55, CJLP56, CJLP133, and CJLP136. These strains produced a larger amount of IL-12, which enhances differentiation and activation of Th1 cells, in macrophage cell-lines more than positive control strains L. casei KCTC 3109(T) and L. rhamnosus GG, although they also induced production of IL-10, which is a suppressor of IL-12. Indeed, CJLP133-stimulated macrophages induced production of more Th1 cytokine IFN-γ and less Th2 cytokine IL-4 than KCTC 3109(T) and GG in co-cultivation with T cells. These findings suggest that lactobacilli from Kimchi may modulate the Th1/Th2 balance via macrophage activation in the hypersensitive reaction caused by Th2 cells. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Allergic reactions including asthma and atopy are caused by predominance of Th2 response over Th1 response. Lactobacilli isolated from fermented foods such as yogurt, cheese, and Kimchi showed health-promoting activities. The present study indicated that several lactobacilli strains from Kimchi may reduce allergic reactions through macrophage-mediated induction of Th1 response.     

免疫低下和食物过敏小鼠外周血中细胞因子的变化

建立小鼠免疫低下模型和食物过敏模型,采用ELISA法检测外周血中细胞因子(IL-4、IL-6、IL-10、IL-12、IFN-γ、TGF-β)的变化。结果表明：与空白对照组比较,腹腔注射环磷酰胺所建立免疫低下小鼠胸腺指数和脾脏指数均有显著降低(P≤0.05),且在第3天达到最低;经卵清蛋白致敏小鼠外周血IgE水平极显著升高(P≤0.01)。免疫低下小鼠外周血中IFN-γ(除第3天外)、TGF-β含量(除第3天外)和IFN-γ/IL-4比值均显著降低,而IL-10水平也有下降趋势;除第2天外IL-6水平显著升高,但IL-4水平只在第3天显著性增高,IL-12先是下降随后呈现增多的趋势;食物过敏小鼠的IL-4、IL-6、IL-10和TGF-β水平均有显著性增高,IFN-γ/IL-4比值有显著性下降,而IFN-γ和IL-12没有明显的变化。因此,免疫低下和食物过敏小鼠的Th1/Th2细胞平衡均向Th2细胞偏移,免疫低下对Th1细胞的影响大,食物过敏对Th2细胞的影响更明显。     

虾制品致敏性诱发豚鼠相关细胞因子及Th1/Th2细胞平衡的变化

以消减致敏性南美白对虾的虾仁、虾肉和虾蛋白为样品,以pH 7.5的磷酸盐缓冲液为阴性对照,未处理的虾蛋白为阳性对照,建立豚鼠过敏模型,研究过敏豚鼠血清中相关细胞因子与食物过敏的相关性,并推断食物过敏对辅助性T（type 1/type 2 T-helper, Th1/Th2）细胞平衡的影响。收集过敏豚鼠的血清,采用酶联免疫吸附测定法检测血清中免疫球蛋白E（immunoglobulin E,IgE）、组胺（histamine,HIS）、相关细胞因子（白细胞介素（interleukin,IL）-1、IL-2、IL-3、IL-4、IL-6、IL-10、肿瘤坏死因子-α（tumor necrosis factor α,TNF-α）、干扰素-γ（interferon-γ,IFN-γ）质量浓度。结果表明,用未处理的虾蛋白致敏豚鼠,用致敏性消减程度不同的虾制品（虾蛋白、虾肉、虾仁）提取的蛋白激发,消减致敏性的虾蛋白、虾肉和虾仁提取蛋白激发后豚鼠血清中IgE含量分别为（3.905±0.120）、（4.813±0.188）、（5.199±0.327）U/mL,HIS质量浓度分别为（16.437±1.120）、（19.656±1.080）、（21.071±1.732）μg/mL,激发后血清中IgE和HIS质量浓度变化与致敏性程度呈正相关,致敏性越低,血清中IgE和HIS质量浓度越低。过敏豚鼠血清中IL-1、IL-2、IL-3、IL-4、IL-6、TNF-α质量浓度的变化与虾制品致敏程度呈正相关;同时,与IgE和HIS质量浓度变化规律具有一致性;血清中IL-10质量浓度变化与致敏性程度呈负相关;因此,这些细胞因子与食物过敏具有很好的相关性。过敏血清中IFN-γ没有呈现规律性变化,但IFN-γ/IL-4随着致敏性的增强而减小。因此,推测虾制品激发过敏豚鼠的Th1/Th2细胞平衡向Th2细胞偏移。     

Citrus Tachibana Leaf Extract Mitigates Symptoms of Food Allergy by Inhibiting Th2‐Associated Responses

Although the incidence of food allergy continues to rise, there have been no effective therapeutic strategies. Citrus fruits contain a number of bioactive flavonoids with immune‐regulatory functions. The objective of this study was to determine whether Citrus tachibana (fruit body with peel, leaves, and branch) can protect against the development of food allergy and the mechanism behind it, and to identify the active compound(s) responsible. We found that C. tachibana leaf extract (CLE) mitigated ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced food allergy symptoms including increased rectal temperature, diarrhea, and anaphylaxis. This mitigation was likely due to CLE‐mediated decreases in cytokine release from T‐helper 2 cells (Th2 cells) in mesenteric lymph nodes. Moreover, higher levels of CLE attenuated systemic Th2 cell–mediated responses in mouse splenocytes sensitized with OVA+Alum. This was evidenced by CLE‐mediated reductions in Th2 cytokine release, including interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13, but not the Th1 cytokines IL‐12 and interferon (IFN)‐γ, which was attributable to decreased gene expression levels. We also identified kaempferol as the most potent compound for reducing Th2‐associated responses in splenocytes. The findings of this study suggest that CLE suppresses Th2‐cell–mediated immune responses, contributing to alleviation of food allergy symptoms, and that kaempferol is a flavonoid with potential antiallergenic activity that targets Th2 cell–induced responses.     

Hesperidin inhibits development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice by suppressing Th17 activity

Hesperidin (previously called vitamin P) is a predominant flavanone present in citrus fruits, and is presumed to have a role in their beneficial effect for human health because it possesses various physiological activities. In this study, we investigated the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of hesperidin and α-glucopyranosyl (αG)-hesperidin, its derivative with enhanced water-solubility, in NC/Nga mice, a human-like mouse model of atopic dermatitis. NC/Nga mice were fed a 0.1% αG-hesperidin or hesperidin diet for 8 weeks. αG-hesperidin and hesperidin feeding effectively inhibited skin lesions and immunoglobulin E (IgE) elevation. At the end of the 8-week-experimental period, the production of inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-17 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) from splenocytes was lower in the αG-hesperidin/hesperidin-fed group than in the control group. Changes in mRNA expression in splenocytes are also examined using DNA microarray and real-time RT-PCR. It was revealed that cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4), a regulatory T-cell (Treg) marker, was markedly upregulated in splenocytes, particularly by αG-hesperidin feeding. These results suggest that αG-hesperidin attenuated exacerbation of AD-like symptoms, decreased systemic immune hyper-responsiveness in part through the reduction of IgE, IL-17 and IFN-γ, and also modulated Th17/Treg balance in NC/Nga mice. Therefore, αG-hesperidin may be useful in the management of Th17-mediated allergic disorders.     

壳寡糖及其磷酸化修饰产物对小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖及诱生细胞因子的影响

目的:研究壳寡糖及其磷酸化修饰产物对小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖及诱生细胞因子的影响。方法:采用四甲基偶氮唑盐(MTT)法检测壳寡糖及其磷酸化修饰产物在不同质量浓度条件下对小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖的影响;用酶联免疫吸附实验(ELISA)法测定白介素2(IL-2)和γ干扰素(IFN-γ)的含量。结果:壳寡糖及其修饰产物对小鼠脾细胞均具有明显的细胞增殖作用,并存在一定的剂量依赖关系,2种实验药物均能提高IFN-γ水平;IL-2测定结果显示,壳寡糖具有明显提高脾细胞分泌IL-2的作用。结论:壳寡糖及其修饰产物具有明显的免疫增强作用,该作用与诱导小鼠脾细胞增殖、提高脾细胞中IFN-γ、IL-2的水平有关。     

Garlic extract and its selected organosulphur constituents promote ileal immune responses ex vivo

The effects of garlic extract and three organosulphur compounds of garlic on intestinal immune responses in mice were investigated. Peyer’s patch (PP) cells were isolated from mice orally administered with garlic extracts or one of three organosulphur compounds (alliin, allicin, diallyl disulphide (DADS)). PP cells isolated from mice that had been orally injected with ethanol extract significantly produced interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4. IL-2 production in PP cells was significantly reduced by hot-water and ethanol extracts from garlic. PP cells from mice administered with two organosulphur compounds, alliin or DADS (5 mg/kg/day), could produce IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-4, whereas allicin showed moderate activity. The enhancement activity of IL-2 and IFN-γ productions in PP cells by DADS was higher than those obtained by administration of alliin or allicin. Comprehensive analyses of genetic profiles in PP tissue from mice administered with ethanolic extracts, allicin or alliin revealed that oral administration of samples increased 68–144 genes and decreased 50–52 genes by ?1.8-fold. Analyses of clustering profiles of microarrays indicated that ethanol extract and alliin upregulated the expression of IFN-γ. These data showed that garlic and its organosulphur compounds stimulate de novo IFN-γ biosynthesis in PP cells, thereby promoting ileal immune responses.     

Effect of oral administration of heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 on total and ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin E production through the improvement of Th1/Th2 balance

We examined the effect of 59 strains of heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis on interleukin (IL)-12 and interferon (IFN)-gamma production from mouse Peyer's patch (PP) cells. L. brevis has a great variety of strains that induce the production of these cytokines. Some L. brevis strains, which were selected for their ability to induce a strong Th1 immune response, inhibited both total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and antigen specific IgE production, and improved the Th1/Th2 balance by enhancing IL-12 and IFN-gamma and inhibiting IL-4 production from ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mouse splenocytes. Based on the results of this screening, we selected L. brevis SBC8803 as a potent inhibitor of IgE production, and investigated the effect of oral administration of heat-killed SBC8803 on IgE production in OVA-sensitized mice. OVA-sensitized mice were fed SBC8803 0% (control), 0.05%, or 0.5% added diet for 4 weeks during the period of the experiment. Total and OVA-specific IgE in the serum of mice, which were fed the 0.5% added diet, was significantly lower than that of the control diet fed mice. The IFN-gamma/IL-4 value, which represents the Th1/Th2 balance, from the 0.5% added diet fed mice splenocytes was also significantly higher than that of the control diet fed mouse splenocytes. Histamine release from OVA-sensitized mice into sera that were induced by the intraperitoneal antigen challenge decreased following the oral administration of SBC8803. The inhibition of IgE production and histamine secretion by the oral administration of heat-killed SBC8803 was probably due to the improvement of the Th1/Th2 balance toward Th1 dominance.     

Effect of extract from laquer tree (Rhus verniciflua Stokes) on DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mouse

Laquer tree (Rhus verniciflua Stokes; Anacardiaceae, RVS) has been used in oriental medicines. This study examined whether the extract of RVS free of urushiol (detoxified RVS extract, DRE) exerting antiinflammation could alleviate the symptoms of atopic dermatitis (AD) induced with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in NC/Nga mice. DRE contained flavonoids like fustin (153 mg/g), fisetin (14.6 mg/g), sulfuretin (13.3 mg/g), and quercetin (0.95 mg/g). DRE (10 μg/mL) decreased the production of nitric oxide activated by lipopolysaccharide. Oral administration of DRE (200 mg/kg weight/day) decreased scratching frequencies, the epidermal thickness on dorsal skin, and the number of degranulated mast cell. DRE significantly lowered the levels of IgE in sera (p<0.01), which were elevated by DNCB. DNCB reciprocally raised IL-4 and lowered IFN-γ in media of spleenocyte. DRE reversely raised IFN-γ and lowered IL-4. Contrastively, dexamethasone suppressed the overall immune reactions. In conclusion, DRE inhibited Th2-mediated IgE overproduction through modulation of Th1/2 balance, which was in part attributed to anti-inflammatory activity.