T-Cell Populations in Infancy After Maternal Probiotic Supplementation to Prevent Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

Background

In the randomised, controlled study Probiotics in the Prevention of Allergy amongst Children in Trondheim (ProPACT), maternal probiotics given from 36 weeks pregnancy until 3 months post-delivery while breastfeeding reduced atopic dermatitis (AD) in the offspring. Previous analysis of T helper (Th) subsets indicated that the preventive effect may be partially mediated through reduced Th22 percentage at 3 months of age.

Objective

To examine the longitudinal effects of maternal probiotics on Th1, Th2, Th17, Th22, and regulatory T cells (Treg) in offspring at 10 days and 2 years of age compared to the previously published 3 months results.

Methods

Pregnant women (n = 415) were randomised to take probiotic milk (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb-12 and Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5) or placebo, and their offspring were assessed for AD at 2 years. We analysed the children's blood collected at 10 days (n = 112) and 2 years (n = 156) for Treg and Th subsets using flow cytometry and included the results from the previously analysed 3 months samples (n = 76) in the same study to compare the three timepoints using linear mixed models.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences between T cell populations of the children in the probiotics and placebo groups at 10 days and 2 years.

Conclusion

We previously observed reduced Th22 percentage in the probiotics group at 3 months. However, since the effect was not seen earlier and did not last, it may not be the main reason for AD prevention.