A Probiotic Preparation Alleviates Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Lesions in Murine Models

Saccharomyces boulardii (CNCM I-745) ameliorates Ovalbumin-induced atopic dermatitis by modulating the NF-κB signaling in skin and colon

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a long-lasting allergic disorder characterized by itching, redness, swelling, dry skin, scaling, inflammation, and tissue damage. The exact cause of AD is still unknown. Steroid medications are frequently utilized in treating AD, but their prolonged use can result in complications. Multiple studies suggest probiotics may regulate the immune system, boost immune functionality, or reduce overactive immune responses. The current study investigated the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory role of Saccharomyces boulardii in Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AD in a murine model. Balb/c mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA to induce AD-like lesions. S. boulardii 1 × 109 CFU/ml/day/mice was orally administrated either as a pretreatment (administered 7 days before OVA induction and continued till day 28) or concurrent treatment (administered from day 1 and continued till day 28). Dexamethasone (5 mg/kg/day) was used as a standard treatment. S. boulardii alleviated the macroscopic and behavioral changes. Blood inflammatory cells were significantly reduced. Serum IgE levels were decreased. Oxidative stress and histopathological changes (epidermal/dermal thickness, inflammatory cells, collagen deposition) in skin tissue were improved. Similarly, the colon's antioxidant capacity and histological architecture were also maintained. Expression of proinflammatory cytokines like TNF-⍺ and IL-1β were significantly reduced in skin and colon tissue. The probiotic S. boulardii under study reduced inflammation by downregulating NF-κB signaling in both skin and colon tissue. This study provides a basis for a possible gut-skin axis, which can be targeted to relieve AD symptoms.

PYR-41, an inhibitor of ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1, attenuates 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in mice

PYR-41 is an irreversible and cell permeable inhibitor of ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1, and has been reported to inhibit the degradation of IκB protein. Previous studies have shown that PYR-41 has effects on anti-inflammatory, but whether it has therapeutic effects on allergic dermatitis is unclear. The aim of this research was to explore the therapeutic effects of PYR-41 on atopic dermatitis. The effects of PYR-41 on the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and the expression of inflammatory genes in HaCat cells were tested by western blot and qPCR. A mouse model was built, and the AD-like skin lesions were induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Then, the treatment effects of PYR-41 were examined by skin severity score, ear swelling, ELISA, and qPCR. The results showed that PYR-41 can significantly reduce the K63-linked ubiquitination level of nuclear factor-κB essential modulator (NEMO) and tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6), inhibit the proteasomal degradation of IκBα, thereby activate TNF-α-induced NF-κB signaling pathway in HaCat cells. In addition, DNCB-treated mice have significant reduction in symptoms after treated by PYR-41, including reduced ear thickening and reduced skin damage. Serum tests showed that PYR-41 significantly reduced the expression of IgE, IFN-γ, and TNF-α. In conclusion, the current results suggest that PYR-41 has potential to reduce the symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

WFDC12-overexpressing contributes to the development of atopic dermatitis via accelerating ALOX12/15 metabolism and PAF accumulation

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by eczema-like skin lesions, dry skin, severe itching, and recurrent recurrence. The whey acidic protein four-disulfide core domain gene WFDC12 is highly expressed in skin tissue and up-regulated in the skin lesions of AD patients, but its role and relevant mechanism in AD pathogenesis have not been studied yet. In this study, we found that the expression of WFDC12 was closely related to clinical symptoms of AD and the severity of AD-like lesions induced by DNFB in transgenic mice. WFDC12-overexpressing in the epidermis might promote the migration of skin-presenting cells to lymph nodes and increase Th cell infiltration. Meanwhile, the number and ratio of immune cells and mRNA levels of cytokines were significantly upregulated in transgenic mice. In addition, we found that ALOX12/15 gene expression was upregulated in the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway, and the corresponding metabolite accumulation was increased. The activity of epidermal serine hydrolase decreased and the accumulation of platelet-activating factor (PAF) increased in the epidermis of transgenic mice. Collectively, our data demonstrate that WFDC12 may contribute to the exacerbation of AD-like symptoms in DNFB-induced mouse model by enhancing arachidonic acid metabolism and PAF accumulation and that WFDC12 may be a potential therapeutic target for human atopic dermatitis.

Effect of a combination of Korean red ginseng extract and probiotics on the prevention of atopic dermatitis in a murine model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Panax ginseng C.A.Mey. (Korea red ginseng) has been used in Asia to treat inflammatory skin diseases. Recently, Korea red ginseng (KRG) is emerging as a good candidate for treating atopic dermatitis (AD) because of its anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Despite much effort, no systemic prevention strategy has been established for AD currently. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the preventive effect of a combination of KRG extract and probiotics on AD-like skin lesions of mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty NC/Nga mice were randomly divided into eight groups: Sham, AD control, Cyclosporine, KRG, Duolac ATP® (ATP), BYO Plant Origin Skin Probiotics (BYO), KRG + ATP, and KRG + BYO. Mice were administered orally with KRG and/or other agents using a gastric tube for 5 days prior to challenge with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB). AD-like skin lesions were induced by percutaneous challenge with DNCB on ears and backs of NC/Nga mice. Effects of each treatment were evaluated based on the following: Clinical severity score, ear thickness, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), total serum Immunoglobulin E (IgE) level, mRNA expression levels and immunohistochemistry analysis of IFN-γ, IL-4, and TSLP in cutaneous lesions.

RESULTS

TEWL, serum IgE level, and expression of immunohistopathologic markers were more improved in the group using KRG combined with probiotics than in the group using KRG or probiotics alone. ATP, KRG + ATP, and KRG + BYO groups showed reduced TEWL increase (ΔTEWL) at 48 h (p < 0.005). KRG + ATP showed a preventive effect on the increase of serum IgE level (p = 0.009). In immunohistopathologic analysis, KRG, ATP, BYO, KRG + ATP, and KRG + BYO groups showed significantly reduced expression levels of IFN-γ at 1 h, 6 h, and 48 h (all p < 0.05). KRG, ATP, BYO, and KRG + BYO groups showed reduced expression levels of IL-4 compared to the AD control group at 6 h and 24 h. KRG, ATP, BYO, KRG + ATP, and KRG + BYP groups showed significantly lower expression levels of TSLP than the AD control group at 1 h and 24 h.

CONCLUSION

KRG can suppress increases of allergic and inflammatory cytokines and increase of TEWL. A combination of KRG and probiotics might have better effects than KRG or probiotics alone for preventing an AD flare-up.

Galectin-9 Induced by Dietary Prebiotics Regulates Immunomodulation to Reduce Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms in 1-Chloro-2,4-Dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-Treated NC/Nga Mice

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a skin disorder that causes chronic itch. We investigated the inhibitory effects of a mixture of prebiotic short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructooligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS), inulin, or β-glucan on AD development in 1-chloro-2,4- dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-treated NC/Nga mice. Mice were randomly assigned to six groups: untreated mice, AD control, positive control (DNCB-treated NC/Nga mice fed a dietary supplement of Zyrtec), and DNCB-treated NC/Nga mice fed a dietary supplement of prebiotics such as scGOS/lcFOS (T1), inulin (T2), or β-glucan (T3). The prebiotic treatment groups (T1, T2, and T3) showed suppression of AD symptoms, Th2 cell differentiation, and AD-like skin lesions induced by DNCB. In addition, prebiotic treatment also reduced the number of microorganisms such as Firmicutes, which is associated with AD symptoms, and increased the levels of Bacteroidetes and Ruminococcaceae, which are associated with alleviation of AD symptoms. Our findings demonstrate the inhibitory effects of prebiotics on AD development by improving the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and beneficial symbiotic microorganisms in in vitro and in vivo models.

Probiotics as a functional food ingredient in allergic diseases: regulation of CD4+ T helper cell differentiation

Allergic diseases are increasing worldwide, associating with increased health costs and decreased quality of life. Allergy is immune-related diseases caused by an allergic immune response to innocuous substance in the environment. At present, research has focussed on the study of the relevance to the microbiome and the phenotypes of allergy, including the relationships among the gastrointestinal microbiome, immune function, and allergic sensitisation. Probiotics as functional food ingredient are thought to secrete functional metabolites that have antibacterial effects on ameliorating intestinal health and CD4+ T helper cells-mediated immunity. This review will summarise the role of probiotics in the immune regulation and flora balance, highlighting recent advances in our understanding of the imbalance of Th subsets and cytokine leading to the immunopathology of allergic reactions. Finally, we discussed the unresolved problems and future research directions in order to promote the clinical application of probiotics immunotherapy.

Probiotics as a Potential Immunomodulating Pharmabiotics in Allergic Diseases: Current Status and Future Prospects

The prevalence of allergic disorders has dramatically increased over the past decade, particularly in developed countries. Apart from gastrointestinal disorders, neoplasia, genital and dermatological diseases etc., dysregulation of gut microbiota (dysbiosis) has also been found to be associated with increased risk of allergies. Probiotics are increasingly being employed to correct dysbiosis and, in turn, to modulate allergic diseases. However, several factors like strain variations and effector metabolites or component of them in a bacterial species can affect the efficacy of those as probiotics. On the other hand, host variations like geographical locations, food habits etc. could also affect the expected results from probiotic usage. Thus, there is a glaring deficiency in our approach to establish probiotics as an irrefutable treatment avenue for suitable disorders. In this review, we explicate on the reported probiotics and their effects on certain allergic diseases like atopic dermatitis, food allergy and asthma to establish their utility. We propose possible measures like elucidation of effector molecules and functional mechanisms of probiotics towards establishing probiotics for therapeutic use. Certain probiotics studies have led to very alarming outcomes which could have been precluded, had effective guidelines been in place. Thus, we also propose ways to secure the safety of probiotics. Overall, our efforts tend to propose necessary discovery and quality assurance guidelines for developing probiotics as potential immunomodulatory 'Pharmabiotics.'

A Probiotic Mixture Regulates T Cell Balance and Reduces Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms in Mice

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with a complex etiology involving the immune response. Recent studies have demonstrated the role of certain probiotics in the treatment and prevention of AD. However, the mechanism by which these probiotics regulate the immune system remains unclear. In this study, we examined the immunomodulatory capacity of Duolac ATP, a mixed formulation of probiotics, both in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that the expression of programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1) was significantly upregulated on bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) treated with Duolac ATP. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-beta were both upregulated when BMDCs were treated with Duolac ATP. The percentage of proliferated regulatory T cells (Tregs) was enhanced when CD4⁺ T cells were co-cultured with Duolac ATP-treated BMDCs on plates coated with anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies. Intriguingly, IL-10 secretion from CD4⁺ T cells was also observed. The AD symptoms, histologic scores, and serum IgE levels in AD mice were significantly decreased after oral treatment with Duolac ATP. Moreover, the Th1-mediated response in AD-induced mice treated with oral Duolac ATP showed upregulation of IL-2 and IFN-gamma as well as of downstream signaling molecules T-bet, STAT-1, and STAT-4. Conversely, Duolac ATP suppressed Th2 and Th17 responses in AD-like mice, as evidenced by the downregulation of GATA-3, C-maf, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-17. Additionally, Duolac ATP increased the number of Tregs found at Peyer’s patches (PP) in treated AD mice. These results suggest that Duolac ATP modulates DCs to initiate both Th1 and Treg responses in AD mice. Thus, Duolac ATP represents a potential preventative agent against AD and could serve as an effective immunomodulator in AD patients.

Lactobacillus salivarius LA307 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus LA305 attenuate skin inflammation in mice

Oral probiotics potential for the management of dermatological diseases is vast. However, results of available studies in skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD), are inconsistent, partly because probiotic effects are strain specific. Careful selection of probiotic strains is therefore indispensable to ensure efficacy of treatment. In this study, Lactobacillus salivarius LA307, Lactobacillus rhamnosus LA305 and Bifidobacterium bifidum PI22, three strains that were previously identified for their interesting immunomodulatory properties in allergy and/or colitis models, were assessed in the prevention of chronic skin inflammation induced by repeated applications of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in hairless SKH-1 mice. Macroscopic and microscopic evaluation of skin lesions was performed together with measurements of serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-17, IL-22, IL-10 and IL-4. Daily oral treatment with the three strains at the dose of 1×109 cfu/day for 3 weeks limited the development of chronic skin inflammation, the effects being strain dependent. Indeed the two Lactobacillus strains significantly limited the intensity of skin inflammation both at the macroscopic and microscopic levels. Macroscopic observations were correlated to the histological observations and the resulting microscopic score. This limitation of the development of AD-like skin lesions involved the modulation of cytokine production. Treatment with the two Lactobacillus strains induced a decrease in the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17, IL-22 and at the opposite an increase in the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and also of IL-4. Globally, B. bifidum PI22 had lower benefits. These results obtained in mice suggest that L. salivarius LA307 and L. rhamnosus LA305 could be good candidates for preserving skin integrity and homeostasis via the modulation of the gut microbiota and that their use could be beneficial in dermatological conditions such as AD.

Mori Folium water extract alleviates articular cartilage damages and inflammatory responses in monosodium iodoacetate‑induced osteoarthritis rats

Mori folium, the leaf of Morus alba L. (Moraceae), has been widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. It has been recently reported that Mori folium possesses potential chondroprotective effects in interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated human chondrocytes; however, its protective and therapeutic potential against osteoarthritis (OA) in an animal model remains unclear. In this study, as part of an ongoing screening program to evaluate the anti-osteoarthritic potential of Mori folium, the protective effects of a water extract of Mori folium (MF) on cartilage degradation and inflammatory responses in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA rat model were evaluated. The results demonstrated that administration of MF had a tendency to attenuate the damage to articular cartilage induced by MIA, as determined by knee joint swelling and the histological grade of OA. The elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinases-13 and two bio-markers for the diagnosis and progression of OA, such as the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and C-telopeptide of type II collagen, were markedly ameliorated by MF administration in MIA-induced OA rats. In addition, MF significantly suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. MF also effectively inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, thus inhibiting the release of NO and prostaglandin E₂. Although further work is required to fully understand the critical role and clinical usefulness, these findings indicate that MF may be a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of OA.

Message in a Bottle: Dialog between Intestine and Skin Modulated by Probiotics

At the beginning, probiotics were used exclusively for gastrointestinal conditions. However, over the years, evidence has shown that probiotics exert systemic effects. In this review article, we will summarize recent reports that postulate probiotic treatment as an efficient one against skin pathologies, such as cancer, allergy, photoaging and skin infections. The focus will be restricted to oral probiotics that could potentially counteract the ultraviolet irradiation-induced skin alterations. Moreover, the possible underlying mechanisms by which probiotics can impact on the gut and exert their skin effects will be reviewed. Furthermore, how the local and systemic immune system is involved in the intestine-cutaneous crosstalk will be analyzed. In conclusion, this article will be divided into three core ideas: (a) probiotics regulate gut homeostasis; (b) gut and skin homeostasis are connected; (c) probiotics are a potentially effective treatment against skin conditions.

Schisandrae Fructus ethanol extract ameliorates inflammatory responses and articular cartilage damage in monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis in rats

Schisandrae Fructus, the fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a number of chronic diseases. Although, Schisandrae Fructus was recently reported to attenuate the interleukin (IL)-1β-induced inflammatory response in chondrocytes in vitro, its protective and therapeutic potential against osteoarthritis (OA) in an animal model remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the ethanol extract of Schisandrae Fructus (SF) on inflammatory responses and cartilage degradation in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA rat model. Our results demonstrated that administration with SF had a tendency to attenuate MIA-induced damage of articular cartilage as determined by a histological grade of OA. SF significantly suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in MIA-induced OA rats. SF also effectively inhibited expression of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, thereby inhibiting the release of NO and prostaglandin E₂. In addition, the elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinases-13 and two biomarkers for diagnosis and progression of OA, such as cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and C-telopeptide of type II collagen, were markedly ameliorated by SF administration. These findings indicate that SF could be a potential candidate for the treatment of OA.