Gut Microbiome and Immune Dysregulation in Childhood Atopic Dermatitis
with Food Allergy
Abstract
Background: This study aims to investigate whether immune
dysregulation and gut microbiome alteration are exacerbated in atopic
dermatitis (AD) with food allergy (ADFA) and potential treatment
strategies. Methods: Total 159 children with AD (tAD) were
divided into two groups: AD without-food allergy (ADNFA) and with food
allergy (ADFA); 100 children without AD were included as control.
Eosinophil counts and total serum IgE levels were measured by routine
methods, serum food-specific IgE levels by quantitative fluorescence
immunoassay, and serum cytokine levels by multi-microsphere flow
immunofluorescence. The intestinal microbiota was evaluated in fecal
specimens using metagenomic sequencing. A novel ADFA mouse model was
generated to evaluate whether probiotic candidates identified from human
fecal samples contributed to the improvement in ADFA pathology.
Results: The levels of eosinophils, IgE, IL-2, TNF-α, IL-4,
IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-12P70 and IFN-α were elevated in tAD
compared to normal controls. Compared with ADNFA, the levels of
eosinophils, IgE and IL-5 were persistently increased, while IFN-γ was
decreased, the species of Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis) was
reduced in ADFA. Compared with AD, the ADFA model had more severe skin
lesions on the back and significantly higher serum OVA-specific IgE,
IL-4 and IL-5. Following oral administration of L. lactis (
L. lactis 1.1936+1.3992), skin lesions in ADFA mice was
significantly improved. The levels of OVA-specific IgE, IL-4 and IL-5
decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: Food allergy
aggravates immune dysregulation and gut microbiome dysbiosis in children
with AD. L. lactis could be a candidate probiotic for the
treatment of ADFA.