Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus strain L-55 on the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.

In this study, we examined whether Lactobacillus acidophilus strain L-55 (strain L-55) suppresses the development of atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions induced by repeated application of 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB) in sensitized NC/Nga mice. The effect of strain L-55 was assessed by measuring clinical symptoms, ear swelling, scratching behavior and serum levels of total IgE. Strain L-55 was administered orally once a day: Strain L-55 at doses of 1 and 10 mg cells/mouse inhibited the development of AD-like skin lesions in dermatitis scores for the back. The increase of dermatitis score and ear swelling was also inhibited by strain L-55. In addition, strain L-55 also caused an inhibition of histological changes induced by repeated application of TNCB. Scratching behavior observed in the back and ear was inhibited by strain L-55. Furthermore elevated serum IgE levels observed by TNCB were also decreased by strain L-55. These results indicate that the inhibition of strain L-55 on AD-like lesions induced by repeated application of TNCB in sensitized NC/Nga mice occurred via a decrease in the serum total IgE level.