Multistrain Probiotics Supplement Alleviates Asthma Symptoms via Increasing Treg Cells Population: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Sina Sadrifar, Tannaz Abbasi-Dokht, Sarvenaz Forouzandeh, Farhad Malek, Rasoul Baharlou, Maral Hemmati, Parviz Kokhaei, Amir Salek Farrokhi

Journal: International archives of allergy and immunology 2023;184(3):291-301

PMID: 36502805

Full Text on S. Karger AG, Basel, Switzerland View on PubMed

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The favorable effects of probiotics have been demonstrated in allergic disorders. However, the underlying immunological mechanisms are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the improvement of clinical symptoms and immunological balance after receiving probiotics in patients with asthma.

METHODS

The present study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which 40 patients with asthma were enrolled. They were treated with probiotics or placebo: 1 capsule/day for 8 weeks. Pulmonary function test, percentage of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ Tregs, and gene expression of T-bet, GATA-3, RORγt, and Foxp3 in PBMCs were assessed at baseline and after treatment.

RESULTS

Our results showed a significant increase in the expression of FoxP3 and CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ Tregs population, while RORγt and GATA3 expression were reduced. In addition, pulmonary function tests showed a significant improvement in forced expiratory volume and forced vital capacity after receiving probiotics.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that 8-week treatment with probiotic supplementation can control T-helper 2-predominant and Th17 pro-inflammatory responses and improve forced vital and forced expiratory volume in asthmatic patients. It seems probiotics can be used besides common treatments for patients with asthma.

Address: Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.; Cancer Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.; Department of Internal Medicine, Kosar Hospital, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.; Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna and Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.; Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: 10.1159/000526739

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Full Text Sources:

https://doi.org/10.1159/000526739

MeSH Terms: Humans, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory, Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3, Asthma, Dietary Supplements, Probiotics, Forkhead Transcription Factors