The combination of Bifidobacterium breve with non-digestible oligosaccharides suppresses airway inflammation in a murine model for chronic asthma.
Over the last decade, there has been a growing interest in the use of interventions that target the intestinal microbiota as a treatment approach for asthma. This study is aimed at exploring the therapeutic effects of long-term treatment with a combination of Bifidobacterium breve with non-digestible oligosaccharides on airway inflammation and remodeling. A murine ovalbumin-induced chronic asthma model was used. Pulmonary airway inflammation; mRNA expression of pattern recognition receptors, Th-specific cytokines and transcription factors in lung tissue; expression of Foxp3 in blood Th cells; in vitro T cell activation; mast cell degranulation; and airway remodeling were examined. The combination of B. breve with non-digestible oligosaccharides suppressed pulmonary airway inflammation; reduced T cell activation and mast cell degranulation; modulated expression of pattern recognition receptors, cytokines and transcription factors; and reduced airway remodeling. The treatment induced regulatory T cell responses, as shown by increased Il10 and Foxp3 transcription in lung tissue, and augmented Foxp3 protein expression in blood CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells. This specific combination of beneficial bacteria with non-digestible oligosaccharides has strong anti-inflammatory properties, possibly via the induction of a regulatory T cell response, resulting in reduced airway remodeling and, therefore, may be beneficial in the treatment of chronic inflammation in allergic asthma.
Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Danone Research, Centre for Specialised Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: s.sagar@uu.nl.
Seil
S
Sagar
Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Danone Research, Centre for Specialised Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Arjan P
AP
Vos
Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Mary E
ME
Morgan
Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Danone Research, Centre for Specialised Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Johan
J
Garssen
Danone Research, Centre for Specialised Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Niki A
NA
Georgiou
Bioceros B.V., Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Louis
L
Boon
Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Aletta D
AD
Kraneveld
Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Gert
G
Folkerts
D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition / Q000235:genetics; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition
Airway inflammation; Allergic asthma; Bifidobacterium breve; Murine asthma model; Regulatory T cell; Transcription factor