<i>Pediococcus</i> sp. KB1 and rosmarinic acid cooperatively improve the symptoms in a murine cedar pollinosis by inhibition of FcϵRIα via splenic increase of IL-10 and IL-27 expression

Akina Omori; Takao Mori; Kazunobu Baba; Tadaaki Miyazaki; Akina Omori; Takao Mori; Kazunobu Baba; Tadaaki Miyazaki

doi:10.3934/Allergy.2026005

AIMS Allergy and Immunology

2026, Volume 10, Issue 1: 38-51. doi: 10.3934/Allergy.2026005

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Research article

Pediococcus sp. KB1 and rosmarinic acid cooperatively improve the symptoms in a murine cedar pollinosis by inhibition of FcϵRIα via splenic increase of IL-10 and IL-27 expression

1.
Department of Synbiotics, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, North, 15 West 7, Kitaku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0815, Japan
2.
LAB biotech Co., Ltd, Hokudai Business Spring Bidg, North 21 West 12, Kitaku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0021, Japan

Received: 26 August 2025 Revised: 09 March 2026 Accepted: 17 March 2026 Published: 20 March 2026

Lactic acid bacteria and polyphenols are known to have various health-promoting effects. Pediococcus sp. KB1 (KB1) is a probiotic that was isolated from pickled suguki turnips and has been shown to have potential immunomodulatory activity and strong resistance to gastric acid. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a phenolic compound commonly found in Lamiaceae plant species, known for its broad anti-inflammatory properties. However, the underlying mechanisms of the combined effects of KB1 and RA on pollinosis remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oral administration of KB1 and RA on symptom amelioration and anti-inflammatory activity using a murine model of pollinosis. Our results showed that the KB1 + RA group had attenuated sneezing and nasal rubbing in our murine model of cedar pollinosis. The KB1 + RA group exhibited decreased serum histamine levels and reduced Cry j1-specific IgE levels. In both the KB1 and KB1 + RA groups, spleen tissue weight was significantly reduced. In addition, in the KB1 + RA group, increased mRNA expression levels of IL-10, IL-27, IFN-γ, and Foxp3 in the spleen, along with reduced FcϵRI-α protein expression, were found. These observations suggest that the combined administration of KB1 + RA may alleviate symptoms by regulating the Th1/Th2 balance and anti-inflammatory cytokines. These results suggest that KB1 and RA may serve as potential natural anti-inflammatory agents for the management of pollinosis.
- Japanese cedar pollinosis,
- Cry j1,
- heat-killed Pediococcus sp. KB1,
- rosmarinic acid,
- anti-inflammation
Citation: Akina Omori, Takao Mori, Kazunobu Baba, Tadaaki Miyazaki. Pediococcus sp. KB1 and rosmarinic acid cooperatively improve the symptoms in a murine cedar pollinosis by inhibition of FcϵRIα via splenic increase of IL-10 and IL-27 expression[J]. AIMS Allergy and Immunology, 2026, 10(1): 38-51. doi: 10.3934/Allergy.2026005

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Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria and polyphenols are known to have various health-promoting effects. Pediococcus sp. KB1 (KB1) is a probiotic that was isolated from pickled suguki turnips and has been shown to have potential immunomodulatory activity and strong resistance to gastric acid. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a phenolic compound commonly found in Lamiaceae plant species, known for its broad anti-inflammatory properties. However, the underlying mechanisms of the combined effects of KB1 and RA on pollinosis remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oral administration of KB1 and RA on symptom amelioration and anti-inflammatory activity using a murine model of pollinosis. Our results showed that the KB1 + RA group had attenuated sneezing and nasal rubbing in our murine model of cedar pollinosis. The KB1 + RA group exhibited decreased serum histamine levels and reduced Cry j1-specific IgE levels. In both the KB1 and KB1 + RA groups, spleen tissue weight was significantly reduced. In addition, in the KB1 + RA group, increased mRNA expression levels of IL-10, IL-27, IFN-γ, and Foxp3 in the spleen, along with reduced FcϵRI-α protein expression, were found. These observations suggest that the combined administration of KB1 + RA may alleviate symptoms by regulating the Th1/Th2 balance and anti-inflammatory cytokines. These results suggest that KB1 and RA may serve as potential natural anti-inflammatory agents for the management of pollinosis.

Abbreviations

KB1

Pediococcus sp. KB1

Rosmarinic acid

JCP

Japanese cedar pollinosis

IL-10

Interleukin-10

T helper

IFN-γ

Interferon-γ

IgE

Immunoglobulin E

Al(OH)₃

Aluminum hydroxide

Tr1

T regulatory 1

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP22K07885. Funding from the LAB biotech Co., Ltd is gratefully acknowledge.

Conflict of interest

Takao Mori is an employee of LAB Biotech Co., Ltd., which funded this study. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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