Leuconostoc mesenteroides WHH1141 ameliorates ovalbumin‐induced food allergy in mice

Abstract

AbstractFood allergy (FA) is acknowledged as a significant public health and food safety issue, due to its manifestation as an amplified immune reaction to food antigens. Recently, probiotics within Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have been highlighted as a promising strategy against allergic disease by modulating the balance of Th1/Th2 responses. However, the allergy‐alleviating effects of probiotic Leuconostoc mesenteroides strains are unknown. Therefore, this study investigated the potentials of eleven L. mesenteroides strains on the Th1/Th2 balance in vitro by evaluating the expression patterns of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) (Th1 cytokine) and interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) (Th2 cytokine) in mesenteric lymph node‐derived lymphocytes from ovalbumin (OVA)‐sensitized mice. Among strains, WHH1141 incubation caused the highest IFN‐γ/IL‐4 ratio. Oral administration of WHH1141 (1 × 109 CFU/mL) in the OVA‐induced FA mouse model for 40 days improved the weight loss and FA pathological symptoms and normalized the serum immunoglobulin E levels. Meanwhile, the OVA‐induced elevated gene expressions of cytokines (IL‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13) and tight‐junction proteins (ZO‐1 and Occludin) and levels of cytokines (IL‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13) and histamine in the jejunum were restored by WHH1141. Furthermore, WHH1141 reversed the reduced gut microbial diversity and short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels, specifically increased Bacteroidota abundance, and decreased Firmicutes abundance in OVA‐induced mice. Overall, these findings suggest that WHH1141 exerts FA‐alleviating effects on OVA‐induced mice, which is involved with the inhibition of the jejunal Th2 immune responses and the modulation of gut microbiome composition and SCFA productions.Practical ApplicationLeuconostoc mesenteroides WHH1141 with FA‐alleviating potentials may be considered a promising approach in the mitigation of FA symptoms.