Anti-Inflammatory Response of New Postbiotics in TNF-α/IFN-γ-Induced Atopic Dermatitis-like HaCaT Keratinocytes.

This study examines the synergistic interaction between the immunomodulatory functions of lactic acid bacteria postbiotics and the anti-inflammatory properties of Smilax china L. extract through a combined fermentation process. Using atopic dermatitis (AD) as a model, characterized by an immune imbalance that leads to skin inflammation, we developed a fermented product, MB-2006, and compared its effects to those of the heat-killed probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus (LAC) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LRH). Our experiments focused on elucidating the mechanism of action of MB-2006 in AD-like HaCaT keratinocyte cells, particularly its impact on the NF-κB pathway, a pivotal regulator of inflammation. MB-2006 proved more effective in reducing inflammation markers, such as IL-4 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and in inhibiting NF-κB activation compared to LAC and LRH. Significantly, MB-2006 also reduced the expression of thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), highlighting a synergistic effect that enhances its therapeutic potential. These results suggest that the combined fermentation of Smilax china L. extract with lactic acid bacteria enhanced both the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, presenting a promising integrative approach to treating conditions like AD. Further studies are needed to validate these results in clinical settings and fully explore the potential of this synergistic fermentation process.

Protective effects of tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus IDCC 3302 against UVB­induced photodamage to epidermal keratinocytes cells.

Photoaging is a consequence of chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and results in skin damage. In this study, whether tyndallizate of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus IDCC 3302 (ACT 3302) can protect against UVB­induced photodamage to the skin was investigated. For this, HaCaT keratinocytes were used as a model for skin photoaging. HaCaT cells were treated with ACT 3302 prior to UVB exposure and skin hydration factors and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)­1, MMP­2, and MMP­9 levels in the culture supernatant were evaluated by ELISA. The protective effects of ACT 3302 against UVB­induced oxidative stress in HaCaT cells was also assessed by measuring superoxide dismutase and catalase activity and detecting the expression of pro­inflammatory cytokine­encoding genes and mitogen­activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling components by reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. UVB exposure increased MMP expression and MAPK activation; these changes were attenuated by pretreatment with ACT 3302. Treatment with ACT 3302 prior to UVB exposure also attenuated inflammation. These results demonstrate that tyndallized ACT 3302 can mitigate photodamage to the skin induced by UVB radiation through the suppression of MMPs and could therefore be used clinically to prevent wrinkle formation.

Skin Moisturizing and Antiphotodamage Effects of Tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus IDCC 3302.

Photoaging is generally the result of chronic exposure to the sun and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which causes skin damage. In this study, we developed a UVB-induced hairless mouse model to determine whether Lactobacillus acidophilus IDCC 3302 tyndallizate (ACT3302) can enhance photodamaged skin repair. Mice (6 weeks old) were divided into six groups containing normal, UVB-treated vehicle, and UVB-treated ACT3302 (1 × 105, 1 × 106, 1 × 107, and 1 × 108 cells). Epidermal thickness was increased by UVB, but the thickening was lessened by ACT3302 as was the transepidermal water loss (TEWL). However, ACT3302 increased capacitance and decreased TEWL. Skin tissue staining to evaluate skin collagen increases in the number of skin collagen bundles in UVB-treated ACT3302 mice. UVB irradiation increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and proinflammatory cytokine expression and activated mitogen-activated protein kinases in hairless mice; these changes were also attenuated by ACT3302. We conclude that ACT3302 effectively suppressed wrinkle formation induced by UVB irradiation through MMP downregulation. Therefore, ACT3302 potentially prevents skin photoaging and wrinkle formation.

Effects of ID-CBT5101 in Preventing and Alleviating Osteoarthritis Symptoms in a Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Rat Model.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects the articular cartilage and osseous tissue, and can be worsened by aging, overweight status, and post-traumatic arthritis. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of ID-CBT5101 (tyndallized Clostridium butyricum) on bone metabolism and the inflammatory response in a monosodium iodoacetate-induced rat model of osteoarthritis. ID-CBT5101 was administered orally at doses of 108 or 1010 CFU/day for 2 weeks before direct injection of monosodium iodoacetate (3 mg/50 µl of 0.9% saline) into the intra-articular space of the rats' right knees. The rats subsequently received the same doses of oral ID-CBT5101 for another 4 weeks. We evaluated the treatment effects based on serum biomarkers, mRNA expression, morphological and histopathological analyses of the knee joints, and weight-bearing distribution analysis. Compared with those in control rats, the ID-CBT5101 treatments significantly reduced the serum concentration of inflammation and bone metabolism markers (i.e., COX-2, IL-6, LTB4, and COMP), and significantly increased the concentration of IFN-γ and glycosaminoglycans. In addition, the ID-CBT5101 treatments inhibited the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (i.e., MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2). Furthermore, the ID-CBT5101 treatments effectively preserved the knee cartilage and synovial membrane, and significantly decreased the amount of fibrous tissue. Moreover, compared with that of the negative control group, the ID-CBT5101 treatments increased the weight-bearing distribution by ≥20%. The results indicate that ID-CBT5101 prevented and alleviated osteoarthritis symptoms. Thus, ID-CBT5101 may be a novel therapeutic option for the management of osteoarthritis.

Therapeutic effect of tyndallized Lactobacillus rhamnosus IDCC 3201 on atopic dermatitis mediated by down-regulation of immunoglobulin E in NC/Nga mice.

The therapeutic effect of oral administration of Lactobacillus rhamnosus IDCC 3201 tyndallizate (RHT3201) on atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice were investigated. After induction of dermatitis in NC/Nga mice with house-dust mite extract, each group was fed RHT3201 with 1 × 10(8) , 1 × 10(9) , or 1 × 10(10) cells orally once a day for 8 weeks. Dermatitis scores and frequency of scratching were improved by oral feeding with RHT3201. In contrast to the control group, RHT3201-fed mice showed significantly down-regulated mast cell numbers and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentrations had significantly less IL4 in their axillary lymph node cells. The therapeutic effect of RHT3201 was found to be dose-dependent. These findings indicate that RHT3201 has potential for treating AD.

Bioconversion of vitamin D3 to calcifediol by using resting cells of Pseudonocardia sp.

OBJECTIVES: Resting cells of Pseudonocardia sp. KCTC 1029BP were used for the bioconversion of vitamin D3 to calcifediol which is widely used to treat osteomalacia and is industrially produced by chemical synthesis. RESULTS: To obtain the maximum bioconversion yield of calcifediol by the microbial conversion of vitamin D3, a two-step optimization process was used, including the Plackett-Burman and the central composite designs. Six variables, namely agitation speed, aeration rate, resting cell concentration, vitamin D3 concentration, temperature, and pH, were monitored. Of these, aeration rate, resting cell concentration, and temperature were selected as key variables for calcifediol production and were optimized using the central composite design. Optimal bioconversion conditions obtained were as follows: aeration rate of 0.2 vvm, resting cell concentration of 4.7% w/v, and temperature of 33 °C. CONCLUSION: Using the optimal conditions, 356 mg calcifediol l(-1) was obtained with a bioconversion yield of 59.4% in a 75 l fermentor. These are the highest values reported to date.

Whole cell bioconversion of vitamin D3 to calcitriol using Pseudonocardia sp. KCTC 1029BP.

Calcitriol is an important drug used for treating osteoporosis, which can be produced from vitamin D3. The current method of producing calcitriol from vitamin D3 during cultivation of microbial cells results in low yields of calcitriol and high purification costs. Therefore, in this study, the steps of cell cultivation and bioconversion of vitamin D3 to calcitriol were separated. Cells of Pseudonocardia sp. KCTC 1029BP were utilized as a whole cell catalyst to produce a high level and yield of calcitriol from vitamin D3. In addition, the effects of bioconversion buffers, cyclodextrins, and metal salts on the production of calcitriol were comparatively examined and selected for incorporation in the bioconversion medium, and their compositions were statistically optimized. The optimal bioconversion medium was determined as consisting of 15 mM Trizma base, 25 mM sodium succinate, 2 mM MgSO4, 0.08% ß-cyclodextrin, 0.1% NaCl, 0.2% K2HPO4, and 0.03% MnCl2. Using this optimal bioconversion medium, 61.87 mg/L of calcitriol, corresponding to a 30.94% mass yield from vitamin D3, was produced in a 75-L fermentor after 9 days. This calcitriol yield was 3.6 times higher than that obtained using a bioconversion medium lacking ß-cyclodextrin, NaCl, K2HPO4, and MnCl2. In conclusion, utilizing whole cells of Pseudonocardia sp. KCTC 1029BP together with the optimal bioconversion medium markedly enhanced the production of calcitriol from vitamin D3.

Optimization of medium components for high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid production by Streptococcus sp. ID9102 via a statistical approach.

Hyaluronic acid (HA), linear high-molecular-weight glycosaminoglycan produced from Streptococcus sp., has raised interest in the medical and cosmetics industries because of the various biological functions of HA. In this paper, we report on the optimization of medium components for HA production in Streptococcus sp. ID9102 (KCTC 11935BP) by two-step optimization (one-factor-at-a-time and taguchi orthogonal array design). In the first step, medium components, such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphate, and mineral sources, were selected for HA production in Streptococcus sp. ID9102 (KCTC 11935BP) using the one-factor-at-a-time method. In the second step, the concentration of the selected medium components was optimized using taguchi orthogonal array design. The design for medium optimization was developed and analyzed using MINITAB 14 software. In addition, the effect of amino acid and organic acid, such as glutamine, glutamate, and oxalic acid, was studied for HA production in Streptococcus sp. ID9102 (KCTC 11935BP). Through these processes, the optimum medium comprising 4% glucose, 0.75% yeast extract, 1.0% casein peptone, 0.25% K(2)HPO(4), 0.05% MgCl(2), 0.5% NaCl, 0.04% glutamine, 0.06% glutamate, and 0.02% oxalic acid was determined. We were able to produce HA with a molecular weight of 5.9 x 10(6) at a productivity of 6.94 g/l on pilot scale fermentation.

Production of teicoplanin from Actinoplanes teichomyceticus ID9303 by adding proline.

We evaluated the influence of amino acids in improving teicoplanin productivity. Arginine, lysine, and proline were selected for better productivity among 20 amino acids in Erlenmeyer flasks. Proline was finally chosen as the additive for maximum teicoplanin productivity in a 5-liter fermenter. We obtained the highest teicoplanin productivity, 3.12 g/l, on the eighth d in a 75-liter pilot fermenter.