BackgroundLactococcus lactis JCM 5805 (LC-Plasma) is a unique lactic acid bacteria (LAB) which activates plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC). We aimed to evaluate the effect of LC-Plasma on dendritic cell (DC) activity and subjective indices of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and fatigue in athletes under high intensity exercise.MethodsWe conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial. Fifty-one male subjects belonging to a university sports club were randomized into placebo (n = 25) and LC-Plasma (n = 26) groups. Individuals ingested placebo capsules containing cornstarch or LC-Plasma capsules containing 100 billion cells of heat-killed LC-Plasma per day for 13 days. During the intervention period, subjects performed high intensity exercise according to their sports club training regime. Blood and saliva sampling were obtained at days 1 and 14, and physical conditions were recorded in a diary. We investigated expression of maturation markers on DCs, muscle damage and stress markers and used student’s t test adjusted by Bonferoni’s method for multiple comparison between groups. These data were presented as mean ± SD. We also investigated cumulative days of symptoms regarding infections and fatigue and used Chi-square test for comparison between groups. These data were presented as cumulative number.ResultsCD86 as maturation marker on pDC was significantly increased in the LC-Plasma group at day 14 (Placebo: 296 ± 70 vs. LC-Plasma: 365 ± 115; Mean Fluorescent Intensity; p = 0.013). Cumulative days of URTI were significantly lower in the LC-Plasma group (Placebo: URTI positive 56, URTI negative 256 vs. LC-Plasma: URTI positive 39, URTI negative 299; days; p = 0.028) and symptoms like sneeze or running nose were significantly lower in the LC-Plasma group (Placebo: Symptom positive 52, Symptom negative 258, vs. LC-Plasma: Symptom positive 36, Symptom negative 301; days; p = 0.032). Moreover, the cumulative days of fatigue were significantly fewer in the LC-Plasma group (Placebo: Symptom positive 128, Symptom negative 182, vs. LC-Plasma: Symptom positive 110, Symptom negative 225; days; p = 0.032). Markers of muscle damage and stress markers were not significantly different between groups.ConclusionWe consider that heat-killed LC-Plasma supplementation relieves morbidity and symptoms of URTI via activation of pDC and decreases fatigue accumulation during consecutive high intensity exercise in athletes. However, LC-Plasma ingestion did not affect markers of muscle damage and stress.Trial registrationUMIN-CTR, UMIN000020372. Registered 28 December 2015.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes dry skin and functional disruption of the skin barrier. AD is often accompanied by allergic inflammation. AD patient suffer from heavy itching, and their quality of life is severely affected. Some pharmaceuticals for AD have some side effects such as skin atrophy. So it is necessary to develop mild solutions such as food ingredients without side effects. There are various causes of AD. It is especially induced by immunological imbalances such as IFN-γ reduction. IFN-γ has an important role in regulating IgE, which can cause an allergy reaction. NC/Nga mice develop AD and IgE hyperproduction. In a previous study, we revealed that administration of polysaccharide from black currant (R. nigrum) has an effect on immunomodulation. It induces IFN-γ production from myeloid dendritic cells. We named this polysaccharide cassis polysaccharide (CAPS). In this report, we studied the effect of administering CAPS on atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice. Thirty NC/Nga mice that developed symptoms of atopic dermatitis were used. We divided them into three groups (control, CAPS administration 12 mg/kg/day, CAPS administration 60 mg/kg/day). For 4 weeks, we evaluated clinical score, serum IgE levels, gene expression of spleen, and skin pathology. We revealed that CAPS administration improves atopic dermatitis symptoms. We also found that CAPS administration suppresses IgE hyperproduction and induces IFN-γ gene transcription in the spleen. Finally, we confirmed that CAPS administration suppresses mast cell migration to epidermal skin. These results indicated that CAPS has an effect on AD.

The unique lactic acid bacteria, Lactococcus lactis strain plasma (LC-Plasma), stimulates plasmacytoid dendritic cells, which play an important role in viral infection. The authors previously reported that LC-Plasma reduced the number of days athletes experienced cold-like symptoms and fatigue feelings after high-intensity exercise training; however, the mechanism was unclear. In this study, the authors investigated the effect of LC-Plasma on recovery from physical damage after single exercise on a treadmill in BALB/c mice model. Oral administration of LC-Plasma (AIN-93G + 0.029% LC-Plasma) for 4 weeks significantly improved the locomotor reduction after treadmill exercise. This effect was not detected in mice receiving Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, representative probiotics strain. LC-Plasma also improved voluntary locomotor activity after exercise. Blood and muscle sample analysis indicated that LC-Plasma affects plasmacytoid dendritic cell activation, which, in turn, attenuates muscle degenerative genes and the concentration of fatigue-controlled cytokine transforming growth factor-β.

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Black currant (Ribes nigrum) has various beneficial properties for human health. In particular, polysaccharide from black currant was found to be an immunostimulating food ingredient and was reported to have antitumor activity in a mouse model. We named it cassis polysaccharide (CAPS). In a previous study, CAPS administration caused tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production in vitro and in vivo, but the immunological mechanism of CAPS was not demonstrated. In this study, we revealed the CAPS immunostimulating mechanism in vitro. First, we found that CAPS activated dendritic cells (DCs). Second, we investigated whether it depends on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation primary response (Myd). We concluded that CAPS stimulates DCs through Myd88 depending TLR4 signaling and activates Th1-type cytokine release.

Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum L.) have various benefits for human health. In particular, a polysaccharide derived from blackcurrant was found to be an immunostimulating food ingredient in a mouse model. We named a polysaccharide derived from blackcurrant cassis polysaccharide (CAPS). In a previous clinical study, we reported that CAPS affects skin dehydration, demonstrating its effectiveness against skin inflammation was related to atopic dermatitis; skin inflammation caused skin dehydration. However, there are no studies regarding CAPS effectiveness against skin dehydration. The current study aimed to investigate CAPS effectiveness against skin dehydration. We further demonstrate the effect of oral administration of CAPS on skin dehydration caused by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-induced inflammation in mice. We found that CAPS administration suppresses skin dehydration caused by UV irradiation. We also found that CAPS decreases interleukin-6 and matrix metalloproteinase transcription levels in the mouse skin. These results show that CAPS improves skin hydration in UV-irradiated mice.

Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma (LC-Plasma) is a unique lactic acid bacterium that activates plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). We evaluated the effect of LC-Plasma on fatigue indices and dendritic cells activity in athletes after 14 days’ continuous exercise load. Thirty-seven participants were divided into two groups and consumed placebo (PL) or LC-Plasma capsules (containing 100 billion cells) daily for 14 days. Maturation markers on dendritic cells, blood parameters, physiological indices, and fatigue-related indices were recorded on days 1 and 15 (before and after exercise). Cumulative days of symptoms relating to physical conditions were also recorded during the continuous exercise period. We observed that CD86 as a maturation marker on pDCs was significantly higher and that cumulative days of fatigue were significantly fewer in the LC-Plasma group than in the Placebo group on day 15. We also conducted 2 h ergometer exercise on day 15 to evaluate fatigue. The results showed that autonomic fatigue parameters (LF/HF) were significantly lower in the LC-Plasma group. These results suggest that LC-Plasma supplementation alleviates fatigue accumulation and increases pDC activity caused by a continuous high training load.

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