Probiotic Modulation of Immune Responses in Allergic Diseases
Summary
Allergic diseases such as asthma and rhinitis are marked by aberrant type 2 immune responses and elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. Probiotic interventions aim to correct immune dysregulation via modulation of the gut microbiota and cross-talk along the gut–lung and gut–skin axes. By enhancing epithelial barrier integrity, modulating dendritic cell maturation and rebalancing T helper cell subsets, specific strains can shift responses from a Th2-predominant profile towards Th1 and regulatory T cell activity. In preclinical models, probiotics reduce airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophil infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, while clinical trials report improvements in nasal symptom scores and asthma control when administered alongside standard therapies. Probiotic bacteria also generate metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, which further support anti-inflammatory networks and mucosal tolerance. The global rise in allergic morbidity underscores the potential for probiotic adjunctive treatments to offer safe, strain-targeted approaches that complement existing pharmacotherapies and reduce reliance on corticosteroids.
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Probiotic Modulation of Immune Responses in Allergic Diseases publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in probiotic modulation of immune responses in allergic diseases across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Th1 cells: A subset of helper T cells that produce interferon-γ and support cell-mediated immunity.
Th2 cells: A subset of helper T cells that drive allergic inflammation through cytokines such as interleukin-4 and interleukin-13.
Regulatory T cells (Tregs): Immune cells that maintain tolerance and suppress excessive inflammatory responses.
IgE: Immunoglobulin type E, an antibody involved in allergic sensitisation and mast cell activation.
Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR): An exaggerated bronchoconstrictive response to stimuli, characteristic of asthma.
Gut–lung axis: The bidirectional communication network whereby gut microbiota influence respiratory immunity.
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs): Microbial metabolites that modulate immune regulation and support epithelial integrity.
References
- Lacticaseibacillus paracasei GM-080 Ameliorates Allergic Airway Inflammation in Children with Allergic Rhinitis: From an Animal Model to a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Cells (2023).
- Probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum GUANKE effectively alleviates allergic rhinitis symptoms by modulating functions of various cytokines and chemokines. Frontiers in Nutrition (2024).
- Adjunctive Probiotics Alleviates Asthmatic Symptoms via Modulating the Gut Microbiome and Serum Metabolome. Microbiology Spectrum (2021).
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