Inhibitory effects of Lactobacillus crispatus isolated from vaginal microbiota on atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD), is known to have chronic inflammatory symptoms in the skin. It induces disorder in the skin and initiates the allergic march including allergic rhinitis and asthma in the early life of a human. Probiotic Lactobacillus is reported to prevent the symptoms of the allergic diseases. There have been no reported vaginal Lactobacillus spp. associated with allergic diseases. To examine the possible anti-allergic effects of vaginal Lactobacillus spp., RBL-2H3 cells, EL4 cells, U266B1 cells and RAW 264.7 cells were used in this study. Several vaginal Lactobacillus strains including L.crispatus, L.gasseri, L.jensenii, and L.sakei were shown to inhibit the degranulation of basophil. Increased IgE level, which is key pathogenesis of the atopic disease, was found to be alleviated in U266B1 cell co-cultured with vaginal L.crispatus, L.jensenii and L.sakei strains. Several strains of vaginal L.crispatus, L.gasseri, and L.jensenii prevented secretion of Th2 type cytokines including IL-4, IL-5 which mediate allergic response. Through determining the ratio of IL-10 to TNF-α and IL-10 to IL-6, the anti-inflammation capacity of vaginal Lactobacillus strains was measured. L.crispatus species were shown to have the highest anti-inflammatory capacity. To test in vivo therapeutic effects of vaginal Lactobacillus spp. on atopic dermatitis, NC/Nga mouse model was used. In the mice treated with vaginal Lactobacillus crispatus SNUV206, dermatitis score and scratching time were significantly decreased compared to the mice treated with PBS. Ear and dorsal skin thickness which are thickened in atopic dermatitis patients are also alleviated in SNUV206 treated mice. In conclusion, SNUV206 may have potential therapeutic effects on atopic dermatitis.