Improvement of atopic dermatitis by intake of lactic acid bacteria from funazushi

<p>Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin disease characterized by itchy eczema that repeatedly worsens and goes into remission. Recently, it has been suggested that there is a close relationship between the inflammation and symptom progression of atopic dermatitis and the intestinal microbiota. This is based on reports that the intestinal microbiota is biased in AD patients and that administration of probiotics is effective in the prevention and treatment of AD. In this study, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum FKW200108 (LB), a lactic acid bacterium derived from funazushi, a specialty of Shiga Prefecture, where the number of patients with allergic diseases is small, was orally administered to AD model mice to investigate its effectiveness in improving symptoms.</p><p> Method: NC/Nga mice (approx. 30g/male), a human model of AD, were used. The control group was reared normally, the AD group was induced by using picryl chloride on the back, and the LB group was induced by orally administering LB suspension. After 35 days of rearing, skin samples from the back and small intestine were collected for examination.</p><p> Results: In the back skin of mice, the LB group showed improved damage compared to the AD group. In addition, COX-2 protein expression levels were significantly decreased in the LB group compared to the AD group in the back skin (p < 0.05). IFN-γ mRNA expression levels were significantly decreased in the LB group compared to the AD group in the back skin (p < 0.05) and increased in the LB group compared to the AD group in the small intestine (p = 0.09). In addition, IL-4 mRNA expression levels were significantly decreased in the LB group compared to the AD group in the back skin and small intestine (p < 0.05). In addition, FOXP3 mRNA expression levels tended to decrease in the LB group compared to the AD group in the back skin and small intestine (p = 0.15, p = 0.17).</p><p> Discussion: It was suggested that administration of LB suspension improves AD symptoms by improving the composition of the intestinal microflora and adjusting the immune balance.</p>