Effective Microorgainsm (EM) Fermentation Extract Attenuates Airway Hyperreactivity and Lung Inflammation In A Mouse Model of Asthma

Effective microorganism (EM) fermentation extract has been widely used for agricultural and environmental application. It has been recently revealed that EM cocktail treatment may be effective for treatment of diseases including cancer. In the present study, effectiveness of EM cocktail to control asthma was investigated using a mouse model of allergic asthma. Asthmatic mice sensitized and intranasally challenged with OVA were orally given EM fermentate (EM-1(R) during antigen challenge. Administration of EM-1(R) resulted in a significant reduction in airway hyper-reactivity (AHR) and airway recruitment of total leukocytes and eosinophils. Cytokine (IL-4, IL-5 and IFNgamma) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were not altered by EM-1(R) treatment. However, IL-13 level in BALF was considerably lower in EM-1(R) treated mice than in controls. Moreover, Ag-specific IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 production of draining lymph node cells were markedly downregulated by EM-1(R) treatment when compared to controls, whereas their IFNgamma production was not significantly different. Those data show that EM-1(R) treatment suppresses type 2 helper T (Th2), but not type 1 helper T (Th1), cell response. This finding was also supported by serum antibody data showing that IgE and IgG1 levels in EM-1(R) treated mice were significantly lower than in controls, while IgG2a level was not significantly different between two groups. In conclusion, oral administration of EM-1(R) attenuates asthmatic manifestations including AHR and airway recruitment of eosinophils in a mouse model and which possibly results from selective inhibition of Th2 cell response to allergen. Our data also suggest that EM-1(R) may be effectively applied for control of allergic asthma.

Effective Microorgainsm (EM) Fermentation Extract Attenuates Airway Hyperreactivity and Lung Inflammation In A Mouse Model of Asthma

Effective microorganism (EM) fermentation extract has been widely used for agricultural and environmental application. It has been recently revealed that EM cocktail treatment may be effective for treatment of diseases including cancer. In the present study, effectiveness of EM cocktail to control asthma was investigated using a mouse model of allergic asthma. Asthmatic mice sensitized and intranasally challenged with OVA were orally given EM fermentate (EM-1(R) during antigen challenge. Administration of EM-1(R) resulted in a significant reduction in airway hyper-reactivity (AHR) and airway recruitment of total leukocytes and eosinophils. Cytokine (IL-4, IL-5 and IFNgamma) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were not altered by EM-1(R) treatment. However, IL-13 level in BALF was considerably lower in EM-1(R) treated mice than in controls. Moreover, Ag-specific IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 production of draining lymph node cells were markedly downregulated by EM-1(R) treatment when compared to controls, whereas their IFNgamma production was not significantly different. Those data show that EM-1(R) treatment suppresses type 2 helper T (Th2), but not type 1 helper T (Th1), cell response. This finding was also supported by serum antibody data showing that IgE and IgG1 levels in EM-1(R) treated mice were significantly lower than in controls, while IgG2a level was not significantly different between two groups. In conclusion, oral administration of EM-1(R) attenuates asthmatic manifestations including AHR and airway recruitment of eosinophils in a mouse model and which possibly results from selective inhibition of Th2 cell response to allergen. Our data also suggest that EM-1(R) may be effectively applied for control of allergic asthma.

Concurrent Impairment of Th1 and Th2 Response in Thermal Injury

Large numbers of reports have shown that thermal injury (TI) causes a wide spectrum of defects in immune response that lead to a high susceptibility to various opportunistic infections. However, it is still a matter of debate whether TI induces Th2 polarization or global impairment in Th1/Th2 response. In this study, TI in a mouse model was induced by exposing shaved dorsal skin to boiling water and cytokine production was analyzed. At day 2 of injury, whole spleen cells and T cells were collected and then stimulated with an anti-CD3 antibody. The levels of cytokine secretion were determined by cytokine ELISA. Production of IFNgamma and IL 4 by whole spleen cells from injured mice were concurrently decreased when compared to those from sham-injured controls. Proportional changes in T, B, and T-subset cells were not accompanied. Using purified T cells devoid of accessory cells (AC), it was shown that those defects resulted primarily from lowered T cell potentials. By using mixed cultures of sham T and TI-AC and vice versa, it was revealed that AC also acted as inhibitor cells in IFNgamma and IL 4 production in less extent. Blockade of glucocorticoid signals rendered the T cells partially resistant to TI-induced inhibition in IFNgamma and but not IL 4 production. These results clearly demonstrate that TI induces overall suppression in Th1 and Th2 response through T cell dysfunction together with the inhibition of AC activity, and that reduction in only IFNgamma but not IL 4, production may be caused, in part, by corticosteroid hormone that is secreted prominently during trauma.