title: Maternal and postnatal dietary probiotic supplementation enhances splenic regulatory T helper cell population and reduces peanut allergen-induced hypersensitivity responses in mice.
abstract: Neonatal to early childhood is the critical period for establishing a balance of T helper 1 (Th1) versus T helper 2 (Th2) cellular immunity within the gut, which is strongly influenced by the source and establishment of gut microflora. Probiotic administration has been shown to attenuate Th2-biased cellular immunity and predisposition to food allergies. To test this hypothesis we provided ad libitum a probiotic-supplemented (Primalac 454 Feed Grade Microbials) or control diet to lactating dams with suckling pups and weaned pups until 10 weeks of age. Weaned mice were sensitized/challenged with peanut extract, saline or adjuvant at 6, 8 and 10 weeks of age. At 3, 6, 8 and 10 weeks, fecal samples were collected for microbial analysis, while blood samples were analyzed for total plasma IgE levels. At termination (10 weeks of age), splenic T lymphocyte population subtypes were determined using FACS analysis and Th1/Th2/Th17 gene expression by PCR array. Mice given the probiotic-supplemented diet had significantly enhanced probiotic fecal counts compared to controls at 3, 6, 8 and 10 weeks. Moreover, mice fed the probiotic-supplemented diet had enhanced splenic naturally occurring T regulatory cell populations, and reduced splenic gene expression of allergic mediator IL-13 compared to controls. These results provide evidence that early probiotic supplementation may provide host protection to hypersensitivity reactions to food allergens by attenuating food allergen inflammatory responses.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, United States. Electronic address: ondulla.toomer@fda.hhs.gov.
authors.forename: Ondulla T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Toomer
authors.affiliation: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, United States.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, United States.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, United States.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Do
authors.affiliation: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, United States.
authors.forename: Elmer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bigley
authors.affiliation: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, United States.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gaines
authors.affiliation: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, United States.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007774:Lactation; D051379:Mice; D009035:Mothers; D021183:Peanut Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D019936:Probiotics; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: Food allergy; Mouse; Peanut; Probiotics