Lysed Enterococcus faecalis FK-23 (LFK) Suppressing Allergic Responses in Mouse Models

Recently, several clinical trials have been published to discuss the possibility of probiotic supplementation, especially some products of lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, in prevention and treatment of allergic disorders. However, the results of some investigations were inconsistent with each other. The contradictory effect of probiotics among different individuals might suggest differences in genetic or environmental factors, or both. It is conceivably beneficial to use inbred mice as experimental models to explore whether the effect of probiotics on limiting allergy is under the influence of genetic factors. In this review, firstly, we summarized recent publications regarding the effects of lysed Enterococcus faecalis FK-23 (LFK), which is a preparation of a probiotic lactic acid bacterium strain, on suppressing allergic responses in BALB/c mice. And then, we presented our latest data focused on the effects of LFK on suppressing active cutaneous anaphylaxis and local accumulation of eosinophils in four inbred mouse models by using the BALB/c, C57BL/ 6, C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ strains. The finding of our experimental study suggests that the effect of LFK on combating allergic inflammatory reactions might be affect by individuals’ hereditary background.