title: Longitudinal study of effects of oral dosage of Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 on Japanese cedar pollen-induced allergic nasal symptoms in guinea pigs.
abstract: Previous studies using experimental animal models have reported the beneficial effects of probiotics on allergic responses; however, their long-term effects on allergic nasal symptoms in clinical settings have not yet been elucidated in detail. In the present study, a guinea pig allergic rhinitis model involving repeated inhalation challenges with a natural allergen, Japanese cedar pollen, was used to examine the longitudinal effects of Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 (BBG9-1) on allergic nasal symptoms. BBG9-1 was administered orally once a day. Amelioration of nasal blockage was consistently observed throughout the experimental period in the BBG9-1-treated group. Although challenge-induced sneezing was not significantly inhibited in the BBG9-1-treated group, prolonged treatment with BBG9-1 slightly reduced the frequency of sneezing. Antigen-specific IgE antibody production was also not inhibited in the BBG9-1-treated group. Increases in the numbers of eosinophils and neutrophils in nasal cavity lavage fluid collected after pollen challenge were almost completely suppressed by BBG9-1 treatment, whereas those in mast cell mediators, histamine and cysteinyl leukotrienes were not. In contrast, increases in the levels of nitric oxide metabolites were potently suppressed. Furthermore, prolonged BBG9-1 treatment markedly suppressed exogenous leukotriene D4 -induced nasal blockage. Thus, prolonged oral administration of BBG9-1 suppresses Japanese cedar pollen-induced allergic nasal symptoms. The inhibitory mechanisms responsible may involve reductions in the responsiveness of target organs, such as endothelial cells in nasal mucosal blood vessels, to chemical mediators.
authors.affiliation: Biofermin Kobe Research institute, Biofermin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 7-3-4 Ibukidai-Higashimachi, Nishi-ku, Kobe, 651-2242.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsunemine
authors.affiliation: Biofermin Kobe Research institute, Biofermin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 7-3-4 Ibukidai-Higashimachi, Nishi-ku, Kobe, 651-2242.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Isa
authors.affiliation: Biofermin Kobe Research institute, Biofermin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 7-3-4 Ibukidai-Higashimachi, Nishi-ku, Kobe, 651-2242.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, 5 Nakauchi, Misasagi, Yamashina, Kyoto, 607-8414.
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hagino
authors.affiliation: Biofermin Kobe Research institute, Biofermin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 7-3-4 Ibukidai-Higashimachi, Nishi-ku, Kobe, 651-2242.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1 Motoyama-kita, Higashinada, Kobe, 658-8558, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mizutani
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University, 45-1 Nagaotoge-cho, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-0101.|Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, 5 Nakauchi, Misasagi, Yamashina, Kyoto, 607-8414.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nabe
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000187:drug effects*; D032485:Cryptomeria; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000502:physiology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D023421:Models, Animal; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000628:therapy*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Bifidobacterium bifidum; allergic rhinitis; cedar pollen; probiotics