Dietary supplementation with specific oligosaccharide mixtures decreases parameters of allergic asthma in mice

Int Immunopharmacol. 2007 Dec 5;7(12):1582-7. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2007.07.024. Epub 2007 Aug 17.

Abstract

Specific mixtures of prebiotic oligosaccharides showed immune modulatory effects in previous murine vaccination experiments, suggesting a shift towards T-helper 1 (Th1) immunity. These mixtures consisted of short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides (scGOS) and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (lcFOS) in a 9:1 ratio (Immunofortis), with or without pectin-derived acidic oligosaccharides (pAOS). To investigate whether these mixtures could suppress Th2-related responses, they were tested in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced model for experimental allergic asthma in BALB/c mice. Supplementation with two mixtures of scGOS/lcFOS and scGOS/lcFOS/pAOS at approximately 1% (w/w% net oligosaccharides) in the diet, starting two weeks before OVA sensitization and lasting until the end of the experiment, decreased of several parameters of allergic asthma. The OVA-induced airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness was significantly suppressed by both mixtures. Moreover, OVA-specific IgE titers were decreased by more than 25%, although this effect was not significant. The effects of the oligosaccharide mixture with pAOS appeared to be more pronounced than the effects of the scGOS/lcFOS mixture without pAOS, but a direct comparison between the mixtures was not made. Overall, the results further support the hypothesis that specific mixtures of oligosaccharides modulate the Th1/Th2 balance by enhancing Th1-related and suppressing Th2-related parameters.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / blood
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Asthma / prevention & control*
  • Bronchial Provocation Tests
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • Cell Count
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / pharmacology*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Fructans / administration & dosage
  • Fructans / pharmacology
  • Galactans / administration & dosage
  • Galactans / pharmacology
  • Immunization
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Immunologic Factors / administration & dosage
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Methacholine Chloride / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Oligosaccharides / administration & dosage
  • Oligosaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Pectins / chemistry
  • Pectins / pharmacology
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / chemically induced
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / physiopathology
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / prevention & control

Substances

  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Fructans
  • Galactans
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Methacholine Chloride
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Pectins
  • Ovalbumin