Therapeutic effects of a fermented soy product on peanut hypersensitivity is associated with modulation of T-helper type 1 and T-helper type 2 responses

Clin Exp Allergy. 2008 Nov;38(11):1808-18. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.03075.x. Epub 2008 Aug 13.

Abstract

Background: ImmuBalance is a koji fungus (Aspergillus oryzae) and lactic acid fermented soybean product. This unique production process is believed to create a food supplement that helps to induce or maintain normal immune response.

Objective: To assess possible therapeutic effects of ImmuBalance on peanut (PN) hypersensitivity using a murine model of peanut allergy (PNA).

Methods: PN allergic C3H/HeJ mice were fed standard mouse chow containing 0.5% or 1.0% ImmuBalance (ImmuBalance 2X), radiation-inactivated 1.0% ImmuBalance (I-ImmuBalance 2X), or regular diet chow (sham) for 4 weeks, beginning 10 weeks after the initial PN sensitization, and then challenged with PN. Anaphylactic symptom scores, plasma histamine, serum PN specific-IgE levels and splenocyte cytokine profiles were determined.

Results: While 100% of sham-treated PNA mice developed anaphylactic reactions with a median score of 3.3 following PN challenge, only 50% of ImmuBalance, 30% of ImmuBalance 2X and 40% of I-ImmuBalance 2X-treated mice developed allergic reactions with median scores of 1.0, 0.4 and 0.5 respectively, which were significantly less than that in the sham-treated mice (P<0.05). Plasma histamine and PN specific-IgE levels were also significantly less in all treated mice than in sham-treated mice (P<0.05). Furthermore, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 production by PN-stimulated splenocytes in vitro from ImmuBalance fed mice were markedly reduced compared with sham-treated mice, whereas IFN-gamma production was moderately increased. TGF-beta and TNF-alpha production were similar.

Conclusions: ImmuBalance protects against PN-induced anaphylaxis when administered as a food supplement in this model. Protection was associated with down-regulation of Th2 responses. This supplement may provide a potential novel therapy for PNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaphylaxis / immunology
  • Anaphylaxis / physiopathology
  • Anaphylaxis / prevention & control
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Plant / immunology
  • Arachis / immunology
  • Body Temperature / immunology
  • Body Weight
  • Cross Reactions / immunology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Eating
  • Female
  • Glycine max / microbiology*
  • Histamine / blood
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Peanut Hypersensitivity / diet therapy*
  • Peanut Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Plant Preparations / adverse effects
  • Plant Preparations / immunology
  • Plant Preparations / therapeutic use*
  • Probiotics / adverse effects
  • Probiotics / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, Plant
  • Cytokines
  • Plant Preparations
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Histamine