Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2025
Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model
Published on: April 6, 2022
Fecal microbiota transplantation as a new way for OVA-induced atopic dermatitis of juvenile mice
Xing-Zhi Wang1, Jin-Li Huang1, Juan Zhang1
1Department of Pediatrics, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Insights
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can prevent atopic dermatitis (AD) in children by restoring gut bacteria diversity and suppressing allergic inflammation via the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway, offering a novel treatment approach.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common childhood condition often treated with corticosteroids, which have adverse effects.
- The gut microbiota's role in AD is increasingly recognized, but fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) mechanisms in pediatric AD require elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the preventive effects and mechanisms of FMT in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced juvenile mouse model of atopic dermatitis.
- To explore how FMT influences gut microbiota composition and immune responses in AD.
Main Methods:
- Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced juvenile mouse model of atopic dermatitis.
- 16S RNA sequencing for gut microbiota analysis.
- Histological staining, molecular biology, and flow cytometry for immune cell and marker assessment.
Main Results:
- FMT treatment restored gut microbiota diversity and composition.
- FMT inhibited OVA-specific antibodies, decreased IgE, mast cells, eosinophils, and inflammatory markers.
- FMT induced CD103+ DCs and PD-L1/PD-1 expression, promoting Treg production and immune tolerance.
Conclusions:
- FMT regulates the Th1/Th2 immune balance and gut microbiota in pediatric AD.
- FMT may inhibit AD-associated allergic responses through the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway.
- FMT presents a potential novel therapeutic strategy for atopic dermatitis.
Abstract:
Children all over the world suffer from atopic dermatitis (AD), a prevalent condition that impairs their health. Corticosteroids, which have long-term negative effects, are frequently used to treat AD. There has been a growing body of research on the gut microbiota's function in AD. Nevertheless, the function and underlying mechanisms of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in AD children remain to be established. Therefore, in order to assess the preventive effects of FMT treatment on AD and investigate the mechanisms, we constructed an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced juvenile mouse AD model in this investigation. This study explored the role and mechanism of FMT treatment in AD through 16S RNA sequencing, pathological histological staining, molecular biology, and Flow cytometry. Results demonstrated that the FMT treatment improved the gut microbiota's diversity and composition, bringing it back to a level similar to that of a close donor. Following FMT treatment, OVA-specific antibodies were inhibited, immunoglobulin (Ig) E production was decreased, the quantity of mast cells and eosinophils was decreased, and specific inflammatory markers in the skin and serum were decreased. Further mechanistic studies revealed that FMT treatment induced CD103+ DCs and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1)/programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) expression in skin-draining lymph nodes and promoted Treg production to induce immune tolerance and suppress skin inflammation. Meanwhile, changes in the gut microbiota were substantially correlated with Th2 cytokines, OVA-specific antibodies, and PD-L1/PD-1. In conclusion, FMT regulates the Th1/Th2 immunological balance and the gut microbiota. It may also inhibit AD-induced allergy responses through the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway, and providing a unique idea and possibly a fresh approach to the treatment of AD.
