Abstract
The effect of a lactic acid bacterium on diseases caused by immune disorders was evaluated in this study with the aim of developing practical uses for it as a food product. A potential probiotic strain, Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2809, which exhibits a strong immunomodulatory effect, was selected using an allergic mouse model. The oral administration of this strain reduced antigen-specific immunoglobulin E levels and cedar pollen-induced eosinophilia in mice. In addition, a clinical trial revealed reduction of nasal symptoms in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis. Furthermore, the effect of this strain on endometriosis, which is associated with aberrant immune states in the peritoneal cavity, was assessed. The results show that oral administration of the strain reduced development of endometriotic regions in the endometriosis mouse model. Moreover, a clinical trial involving patients with endometriosis revealed that L. gasseri OLL2809 was effective against endometriosis, especially against menstrual pain and dysmenorrhea. These results suggest that a potential probiotic, L. gasseri OLL2809, alleviates various immune-related diseases by modulating the immune system, facilitating improvements in our quality of life.
