Neonatal colonization of mice with Lactobacillus plantarum producing the aeroallergen Bet v 1 biases towards Th1 and T-regulatory responses upon systemic sensitization.
BACKGROUND
The use of recombinant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as vehicles for mucosal delivery of recombinant allergens is an attractive concept for antigen-defined allergy prevention/treatment. Interventions with LAB are of increasing interest early in life when immune programming is initiated. Here, we investigated the effect of neonatal colonization with a recombinant LAB producing the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 in a murine model of type I allergy.


METHODS
We constructed a recombinant Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum NCIMB8826 strain constitutively producing Bet v 1 to be used for natural mother-to-offspring mono-colonization of germ-free BALB/c mice. Allergen-specific immunomodulatory effects of the colonization on humoral and cellular immune responses were investigated prior and after sensitization to Bet v 1.


RESULTS
Mono-colonization with the Bet v 1 producing L. plantarum induced a Th1-biased immune response at the cellular level, evident in IFN-γ production of splenocytes upon stimulation with Bet v 1. After sensitization with Bet v 1 these mice displayed suppressed IL-4 and IL-5 production in spleen and mesenteric lymph node cell cultures as well as decreased allergen-specific antibody responses (IgG1, IgG2a, and IgE) in sera. This suppression was associated with a significant up-regulation of the regulatory marker Foxp3 at the mRNA level in the spleen cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Intervention at birth with a live recombinant L. plantarum producing a clinically relevant allergen reduces experimental allergy and might therefore become an effective strategy for early intervention against the onset of allergic diseases.
Schwarzer
M
M
Department of Immunology and Gnotobiology, Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Novy Hradek, Czech Republic.
Repa
A
A
Daniel
C
C
Schabussova
I
I
Hrncir
T
T
Pot
B
B
Stepankova
R
R
Hudcovic
T
T
Pollak
A
A
Tlaskalova-Hogenova
H
H
Wiedermann
U
U
Kozakova
H
H
D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D029662:Betula / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate; D007114:Immunization; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011058:Pollen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D016207:Cytokines; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes