Extracts of Gluconacetobacter hansenii GK-1 induce Foxp3+T cells in food-allergic mice by an IL-4-dependent or IL-4-independent mechanism.

The biological activities of acetic acid bacteria (AAB) as Gram-negative bacteria have attracted our interests, especially in their inhibitory effects on allergic responses. To clarify the underlying mechanism that improves allergic symptoms by ingestion of the AAB Gluconacetobacter hansenii, we examined whether different extracts of heat-killed G. hansenii GK-1 could reduce the interleukin (IL)-4 production of immune cells from food-allergic model of OVA23-3, transgenic mice with ovalbumin (OVA)-specific T-cell-receptor genes. A hot-water extract fraction (FII) of G. hansenii GK-1 significantly decreased the in vitro IL-4 production of spleen cells of OVA23-3 mice compared with those stimulated with OVA alone. The IL-4 inhibitory effect was also observed for FIV (purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fraction), but the activity was lower than for FII or LPS from Escherichia coli. Unlike LPS from Escherichia coli, FIV significantly inhibited the LPS-induced IL-6 production of the spleen cells. The addition of FII or FIV to a Foxp3⁺T cell-inducing culture showed that FII significantly promoted the rate of Foxp3⁺CD4⁺T cells of OVA-stimulated mesenteric lymph node cells from recombination-activating-gene (RAG)-2-deficient food-allergic inflammatory OVA23-3 (R23-3) mice with suppression of IL-4 production, while FIV induced Foxp3⁺T cells from RAG-2-deficient DO11.10 non-inflammatory mice. Structure analysis showed a lack of O-antigen in FIV, which seemed to lead to the weak biological activities of FIV observed. The present study suggests that extracts of G. hansenii GK-1 to inhibit IL-4 production of immune cells and/or promote regulatory T cell differentiation synergistically play important roles in improving allergic symptoms safely as well as normal condition.