Berberine-containing natural-medicine with boiled peanut-OIT induces sustained peanut-tolerance associated with distinct microbiota signature

Abstract

Background Gut microbiota influence food allergy. We showed that the natural compound berberine reduces IgE and others reported that BBR alters gut microbiota implying a potential role for microbiota changes in BBR function. Objective We sought to evaluate an oral Berberine-containing natural medicine with a boiled peanut oral immunotherapy (BNP) regimen as a treatment for food allergy using a murine model and to explore the correlation of treatment-induced changes in gut microbiota with therapeutic outcomes. Methods Peanut-allergic (PA) mice, orally sensitized with roasted peanut and cholera toxin, received oral BNP or control treatments. PA mice received periodic post-therapy roasted peanut exposures. Anaphylaxis was assessed by visualization of symptoms and measurement of body temperature. Histamine and serum peanut-specific IgE levels were measured by ELISA. Splenic IgE + B cells were assessed by flow cytometry. Fecal pellets were used for sequencing of bacterial 16S rDNA by Illumina MiSeq. Sequencing data were analyzed using built-in analysis platforms. Results BNP treatment regimen induced long-term tolerance to peanut accompanied by profound and sustained reduction of IgE, symptom scores, plasma histamine, body temperature, and number of IgE + B cells ( p < 0.001 vs Sham for all). Significant differences were observed for Firmicutes / Bacteroidetes ratio across treatment groups. Bacterial genera positively correlated with post-challenge histamine and PN-IgE included Lachnospiraceae , Ruminococcaceae , and Hydrogenanaerobacterium (all Firmicutes ) while Verrucromicrobiacea . Caproiciproducens , Enterobacteriaceae , and Bacteroidales were negatively correlated. Conclusions BNP is a promising regimen for food allergy treatment and its benefits in a murine model are associated with a distinct microbiota signature.

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