The probiotic strain Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 prevents papain-induced respiratory barrier injury and severe allergic inflammation in mice

Abstract

Allergic asthma is characterized by a strong Th2 and Th17 response with inflammatory cell recruitment, airways hyperreactivity and structural changes in the lung. The protease allergen papain disrupts the airway epithelium triggering a rapid eosinophilic inflammation by innate lymphoid cell type 2 (ILC2) activation, leading to a Th2 immune response. Here we asked whether the daily oral administrations of the probiotic Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 (ECN) might affect the outcome of the papain protease induced allergic lung inflammation in BL6 mice. We find that ECN gavage significantly prevented the severe allergic response induced by repeated papain challenges and reduced lung inflammatory cell recruitment, Th2 and Th17 response and respiratory epithelial barrier disruption with emphysema and airway hyperreactivity. In conclusion, ECN administration attenuated severe protease induced allergic inflammation, which may be beneficial to prevent allergic asthma.

The Gut Microbiota and Respiratory Diseases: New Evidence

“…Oral administration of probiotics contributes to regulating respiratory immune responses through numerous signaling pathways. For example, Bifidobacterium bifidum can stimulate the Th1/Th2 balance and upregulate IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-12 secretion in the spleen [139]; Escherichia coli can reduce respiratory inflammatory cell recruitment as well as Th2 and Th17 responses [140]; Enterococcus faecalis suppresses Th17 cell development in the lung, spleen, and gut [141]; and Lactobacillus plantarum can reduce the numbers of lung innate immune cells (macrophages and neutrophils) and levels of cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) in the BALF and induce an immunosuppressive Treg response in the lungs [142]. Despite these effects, the precise mechanisms underlying probiotic effects on the lung and many aspects of the probiotic regulation of immune responses remain largely unknown.…”

Severity of Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis Is Reduced by Pretreatment with Live Probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917

“…Both EcN and EcO have previously been shown in other models to have anti-inflammatory properties [ 30 , 31 , 34 , 50 ]. We found that while treatment with live EcN protects against EAU, treatment with live EcO does not.…”

“…In fact, certain antigens from intestinal commensal bacteria are proposed to activate retina-specific autoreactive T cells [ 19 ], suggesting that some gut bacteria may have a negative effect and be among uveitis triggers. Second, they may improve gut barrier function, thus preventing the uncontrolled transfer of microbial antigens across mucosae (i.e., “leaky gut”) and pro-inflammatory tuning of the immune system [ 31 , 64 ]. Third, they may interact with the mucosal immune system, thus spreading the process of anti-inflammatory tuning further to cells of the innate and adaptive immunity [ 65 , 66 ].…”

“…In clinical practice, EcN proved to be effective in maintaining remission of ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, acute diarrhea in infants and toddlers and uncomplicated diverticular disease of colon [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. In experimental studies, its beneficial effect went beyond the gut-related pathologies and showed promising results in a murine model of multiple sclerosis (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis) and in the prevention of severe lung inflammation in a murine model of allergic asthma [ 30 , 31 ]. A protective effect on clinical and experimental extra-intestinal pathology, such as allergic asthma, is well described for another member of the same bacterial species E. coli O83:K24:H31 (EcO) [ 32 , 33 , 34 ].…”

Contribution of Non-immune Cells to Activation and Modulation of the Intestinal Inflammation

“…Results depend on the specific strain of probiotics used, and vary with the experimental model used. In particular, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are the most widely used probiotic bacteria (97), although strains of E. coli (98–101), Propionibacterium (102–105), Bacillus (106–108), and Saccharomyces (109, 110) are amongst those mostly studied.…”