title: Bacillus clausii exerts immuno-modulatory activity in allergic subjects: a pilot study.
abstract: Bacillus clausii has been demonstrated to exert some immunomodulatory activities and to be safe. Allergic subjetcs show Th2 polarization and defect of T regulatory cells. Aim of the study was to investigate whether Bacillus clausii administration in allergic subjects might modulate cytokine pattern. Ten subjects (mean age 22.3 years) suffering from allergic rhinitis were enrolled. Bacillus clausii spores (Enterogermina: 2 billions spores/vial) were administered at the dosage schedule of 3 vials a day for 4 weeks. Nasal lavage was performed in all subjects before and after the treatment. A panel of cytokines, including IL4, IL10, IFNgamma, and TGFbeta, was measured by immunoassay in the fluid recovered from nasal lavage, before and after the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bacillus clausii treatment showed a significant decrease of IL4 levels (p=0.004) and a significant increase of IFNgamma (p=0.038), TGFbeta (p=0.039), and IL10 (p=0.009) levels. In conclusion, this study shows that the Bacillus clausii may exert immuno-modulating activity by affecting cytokine pattern in allergic subjects and confirms previous study conducted in allergic children.
authors.affiliation: Ospedale San Martino, Genova, Italia.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciprandi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vizzaccaro
authors.forename: Ignazio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.forename: Maria Angela
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tosca
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001407:Bacillus / Q000276:immunology*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013171:Spores, Bacterial; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma