Suppressive Effect of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris YRC3780 on a Murine Model of Japanese Cedar Pollinosis

Accumulating evidence suggests that Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris YRC3780 isolated from kefir has the potential to alleviate allergic responses. Herein, we investigated the effect of YRC3780 on a murine model of Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP). BALB/c mice immunized with cedar pollen extract (CPE) exhibited an increase in serum immunoglobulin E and developed nasal inflammatory responses including sneezing, nasal hyperresponsiveness, and nasal eosinophil accumulation upon intranasal allergen challenge. These responses were suppressed by the oral administration of YRC3780, although the effects on CPE-induced sneezing response and eosinophil infiltration were not statistically significant. Total fecal microbiota diversity was not affected by allergen immunization and challenge or by YRC3780 administration. However, the abundances of Bifidobacteriales, Veillonellaceae, Lactococcus, and Lactococcus lactis were larger and that of Bacteroides was smaller in YRC3780-treated mice compared with those in CPE-challenged and YRC3780-untreated mice. Our findings suggest the usefulness of YRC3780 for alleviating JCP.