Using probiotics to modulate the asthmatic phenotype, respiratory microbiota, and immune responses in cats
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Feline asthma is associated with respiratory dysbiosis, correction of which could serve as novel treatment. We hypothesized that in asthmatic cats treated with anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids, probiotics would attenuate the asthmatic phenotype and beneficially alter respiratory, blood and oropharyngeal (OP) microbial communities and immune parameters versus placebo. 13 client-owned asthmatic cats were enrolled. A randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial of asthmatic cats receiving anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids with oral probiotics or placebo assessed owner-perceived improvement and airway eosinophilia at baseline and after 2 weeks of treatment. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), blood, OP and fecal microbial communities were compared using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Real-time PCR for transcription factors, activation markers and cytokines, and IgA ELISAs were evaluated. Statistical analyses used two-way RM-ANOVA or PERMANOVA (significance, p [less than] 0.05). After treatment, there were no significant differences in owner-perceived clinical signs or mean [plus or minus] SEM BALF eosinophils between groups. There was a significant decrease in fecal [alpha]-diversity, but not in [alpha]- or [beta]-diversity in BALF, blood, or OP between groups or over time. There were no significant differences in CD25, FoxP3, GATA, Helios, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17, IFN-[gamma] mRNA or serum or BALF IgA between groups or over time. In asthmatic cats, oral probiotics failed to improve owner-perceived signs, reduce airway eosinophilia, modify microbial community composition, or alter assessed immune responses versus placebo or over time. Longer treatment, different composition or delivery (e.g., aerosolized) of probiotic, or larger number of cats would represent next stages of study.
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M.S.