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Updated: Sep 11, 2025
Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
Exploring the influence of probiotic administration routes on immune responses in atopic march
Fang-Yu Zhang1, Chi-Yu Yang1, Chien-Hsun Huang2
1Animal Technology Research Center, Agriculture Technology Research Institute, Miaoli, Taiwan.
Insights
Different probiotic administration routes impact allergic disease development. Oral probiotics like B. ovatus aided asthma, while nasal probiotics 74-B and YCFA-33 improved atopic dermatitis, potentially blocking the atopic march.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Allergy Research
Background:
- Children with atopic dermatitis (AD) often develop asthma, a phenomenon known as the atopic march.
- Probiotics are suggested to modulate immune system development and atopic disorders.
- The precise mechanisms and the impact of probiotic administration routes on clinical outcomes remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differential effects of oral versus nasal probiotic administration on allergic disease models.
- To explore the potential of specific probiotic strains in mitigating atopic dermatitis and asthma.
- To understand the immunological mechanisms underlying probiotic interventions.
Main Methods:
- Mice were administered specific probiotic strains (Bacteroides plebeius, B. ovatus, 74-B, YCFA-33) orally or nasally for four weeks.
- Atopic dermatitis (AD) was induced using ovalbumin (OVA), with skin condition and histology assessed.
- Asthma was induced via OVA aerosol, followed by assessment of serum IgE, IgG, inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IFN-γ, TNF-α), and lung tissue histology.
Main Results:
- Oral administration of B. plebeius and B. ovatus showed potential benefits for OVA-induced asthma.
- Nasal administration of 74-B and YCFA-33 alleviated symptoms of OVA-induced atopic dermatitis, reducing skin inflammation.
- Nasal YCFA-33 administration modulated immune responses in the asthma model, increasing IgG, decreasing OVA-IgE and IL-4, and altering cytokine profiles in lung lavage fluid.
Conclusions:
- The efficacy of probiotics in allergic diseases depends on the administration route and specific strain; B. ovatus was effective orally, while 74-B and YCFA-33 were effective nasally.
- Probiotics demonstrate potential in mitigating allergic reactions and pulmonary inflammation, suggesting a role in preventing the progression from atopic dermatitis to asthma.
- These findings may inform the development of novel biomarkers and early intervention strategies for atopic disorders and asthma.
Background:
Children with atopic dermatitis (AD) have a higher likelihood of developing asthma, the so-called atopic march. Previous studies have suggested that probiotics can modulate development of the immune system and atopic disorders. However, the exact mechanisms and whether the route of administration of probiotics has a clinical effect are unknown. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate whether different routes of administration of probiotics may have different effects.
Method:
Probiotics Bacteroides plebeius, B. ovatus, 74-B and YCFA-33 were administered to mice via oral and nasal routes for 4 weeks, followed by the induction of AD using ovalbumin (OVA). The condition of the stimulated skin and histology of skin tissues were evaluated. In addition, 3 days of consecutive exposure to OVA (3%) aerosol was used to induce asthma at the end of the AD experiment. Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), IgG, IL-4, IFN-γ, and TNF-α levels and histological evaluations of lung tissues were assessed after the experiments.
Result:
The oral administration of probiotics B. plebeius and B. ovatus may have improved the inflammatory response of OVA-induced asthma. The nasal administration of the probiotics 74-B and YCFA-33 may have alleviated the symptoms of skin redness and itching of OVA-induced atopic dermatitis. These effects may have been due to reduced infiltration of white blood cells in the stimulated skin area and dampened inflammatory responses. In the later asthma model, YCFA-33 administration significantly increased total IgG and IgG1 in serum, reduced OVA-IgE levels and IL-4 levels, decreased neutrophil content and TNF-α expression, and increased IFN-γ levels in lung lavage fluid (p<0.05). These effects may have blocked the progression from AD to asthma pulmonary inflammation.
Conclusion:
B. ovatus had better effects via oral administration while 74-B and YCFA-33 had better effects via nasal administration. Oral administration is not always the best route. Probiotics may mitigate allergic reactions and pulmonary inflammation. These findings could contribute to the development of innovative biomarkers and early interventions for managing asthma and atopic disorders.
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