Oral application of lactic acid bacteria following treatment with antibiotics inhibits allergic airway inflammation.

AIMS

To investigate whether lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can exhibit anti-allergy properties in antibiotics-treated mice model.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Antibiotic treatment affected the composition of the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites, and thus has a mild effect on Th1/Th2 balance. Oral administration of Streptococcus thermophilus CCFM218 (ST218) could not fully repair antibiotic-induced damage to the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites, and restore them to their original condition. But ST218 treatment revealed a strong suppressive effect on airway inflammation characterized by reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and levels of Th2 cytokines in lung tissues, which was associated with an enhanced mucosal tolerance.

CONCLUSIONS

These results showed that ST218 could alleviate allergic responses in mice treated with antibiotics, primarily through the modulation of mucosal and systemic responses rather than the restoration of the intestinal microbiota.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The rise in incidence in allergies may correlate with the widespread and liberal use of antibiotics. This study affirmed that one species of LAB ST218 significantly reduces allergic airway inflammation in antibiotic-treated mice model.