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Comparative Effects of Live and Heat-Killed Lactobacillus Formulations on DNCB-Induced Dermatitis-like Skin
Yu-Syuan Lin1, Zhen-Shu Liu2,3,4, Yu-Jie Yang1
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, No.145 Xingda Rd., South Dist., Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
Background/Objectives:
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease involving barrier dysfunction, pruritus, and immune dysregulation, and microbial-based interventions are being explored as supportive approaches. This study first conducted an exploratory pilot model-development experiment to characterize DNCB-induced dermatitis-like inflammation and subsequently compared oral live Lactobacillus, heat-killed Lactobacillus (paraprobiotics), and a combined live/heat-killed formulation after disease induction.
Methods:
Male BALB/c mice received repeated topical DNCB exposure followed by 21 days of oral intervention. Outcomes included gross lesion scores, cumulative scratching time, ear and spleen indices, histopathology, qualitative mast-cell staining in the therapeutic experiment, and serum IgE, IL-4, and IFN-γ. Longitudinal gross scores were reanalyzed using generalized estimating equations with group, time, and group-by-time interaction.
Results:
After Holm correction, the mixed formulation showed a lower left-ear erythema score than placebo at Week 2, whereas no other intervention-versus-placebo gross-score comparison remained significant. Paraprobiotic and mixed formulations reduced spleen weight, but histopathological and serum biomarker responses were variable.
Conclusions:
These findings indicate partial, endpoint-dependent effects of live and heat-killed Lactobacillus formulations in DNCB-induced dermatitis-like inflammation.
