Cell Penetrating Peptide Derived from Human Eosinophil Cationic Protein Decreases Airway Allergic Inflammation.

Cell penetrating peptide derived from human eosinophil cationic protein (CPPecp) is a 10-amino-acid peptide containing a core heparan sulfate (HS)-binding motif of human eosinophil cationic protein (ECP). It binds and penetrates bronchial epithelial cells without cytotoxic effects. Here we investigated airway-protective effects of CPPecp in BEAS-2B cell line and mite-induced airway allergic inflammation in BALB/c mice. In BEAS-2B cell, CPPecp decreases ECP-induced eotaxin mRNA expression. CPPecp also decreases eotaxin secretion and p-STAT6 activation induced by ECP, as well as by IL-4. In vivo studies showed CPPecp decreased mite-induced airway inflammation in terms of eosinophil and neutrophil count in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid, peri-bronchiolar and alveolar pathology scores, cytokine production in lung protein extract including interleukin (IL)-5, IL-13, IL-17A/F, eotaxin; and pause enhancement from methacholine stimulation. CPPecp treated groups also showed lower serum mite-specific IgE level. In this study, we have demonstrated the in vitro and in vivo anti-asthma effects of CPPecp.

Evaluation of the effect of Lactobacillus paracasei (HF.A00232) in children (6-13 years old) with perennial allergic rhinitis: a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

INTRODUCTION: Dietary supplementation with probiotics alters intestinal microflora of children and may have immunomodulatory effects in prevention of allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus paracasei (LP), strain HF.A00232, as a supplementary agent to levocetirizine in treating children with perennial allergic rhinitis (AR). METHODS: This study was a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Sixty children with AR aged 6-13 years with nasal total symptoms score (NTSS) ≥5 who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Patients were randomized into two groups with 28 participants receiving levocetirizine plus placebo and 32 participants receiving regular levocetirizine plus LP (HF.A00232) for the first 8 weeks, with a shift to levocetirizine as rescue treatment during the following 4 weeks. Parameters evaluated, including nasal, throat, and eye TSS (NTSS, TTSS, and ETSS, respectively), TSS and levocetirizine use, were recorded daily. Physical examinations and Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaires (PRQLQs) were administered at each visit. In addition, blood samples were obtained for evaluation of cytokines including interleukin-4, interferon-γ, interleukin-10, and transforming growth factor-ß at baseline, Week 8, and Week 12. RESULTS: The LP (HF.A00232) group had significantly lower PRQLQ scores even after discontinuing regular levocetirizine from Week 9 to Week 12 (p < 0.01). There was more improvement in individual parameters in the PRQLQ, including sneezing (p = 0.005), itchy nose (p = 0.040), and swollen puffy eyes (p = 0.038), in the LP (HF.A00232) group. No significant differences in TSS, NTSS, TTSS, ETSS, or cytokine levels were found between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Dietary supplementation with LP (HF.A00232) provided no additional benefit when used with regular levocetirizine in treating AR in the initial 8 weeks of our study, but there was a continuing decrease in PRQLQ scores, as well as a significant improvement in individual symptoms of sneezing, itchy nose, and swollen eyes, after discontinuing regular levocetirizine treatment.