Effect of the <i>Lactococcus Lactis</i> 11/19-B1 Strain on Atopic Dermatitis in a Clinical Test and Mouse Model

• Main Authors: Takato Suzuki, Kyoko Nishiyama, Koji Kawata, Kotaro Sugimoto, Masato Isome, Shigeo Suzuki, Ruriko Nozawa, Yoko Ichikawa, Yoshihisa Watanabe, Tatsuo Suzutani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: atopic dermatitis; lactococcus lactis; clinical test; mouse model; t cell subsets
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/3/763

Some lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are known to improve atopic dermatitis (AD) through the regulation and stimulation of the host immune system. In this study, we found that ingestion of yogurt containing <i>Lactococcus lactis</i> 11/19-B1 strain (<i>L. lactis</i> 11/19-B1) daily for 8 weeks significantly improved the severity scoring of atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) system score from 38.8 &#177; 14.4 to 24.2 &#177; 12.0 in children suffering from AD. We tried to identify which LAB species among the five species contained in the test yogurt contributed to the improvement in AD pathology using an AD mouse model induced by repeated application of 1-fluoro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB). AD-like skin lesions on the dorsal skin and ear were most improved by <i>L. lactis</i> 11/19-B1 intake among the five LAB species. In addition, analysis of CD4+ T cell subsets in Peyer&#8217;s patches (PPs) and cervical lymph nodes (CLNs) indicated that the intake of <i>L. lactis</i> 11/19-B1 generally suppressed all subsets related to inflammation, i.e., Th1, Th2 and Th17, instead of activating the suppressive system, Treg, in the AD mouse model. Histological observations showed ingestion of <i>L. lactis</i> 11/19-B1 significantly suppressed severe inflammatory findings, such as inflammatory cell filtration, epidermal erosion and eosinophil infiltration. These results suggest that the immunomodulatory effects of <i>L. lactis</i> 11/19-B1 contribute to improvements in AD pathology.