In this study, we found that the glycoprotein (18 kDa) isolated from Lactobacillus plantarum L67 (L67 protein) inhibits allergy-related inflammatory mediators in BPA treated rat basophilic leukemia 2H3 (RBL-2H3) cells and primary cultured splenocytes. First, we measured the levels of ERK, p38, and AP-1 by Western blotting and we evaluated the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 cytokines by real-time quantitative PCR. Finally, we evaluated the applicability of L. plantarum L67 as a yogurt starter culture by measuring pH, enumeration of bacteria, and sensory scores. The results of this study shows that L67 protein inhibits the phosphorylation of ERK and p38 MAPK, as well as the activation of AP-1 (c-Fos and c-Jun). With inflammationrelated factors (Th2-related cytokines), L67 protein inhibits BPA-induced IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 activity. Bisphenol A stimulates MAPK signaling, which induces increased GATA-3 expression, and GATA-3 induces the differentiation of Th2 cells and secretion of Th2-related cytokines. Our findings showed that L67 protein may regulate the activation of GATA3 and T-bet through the induction of MAPK signaling, and it relieves the Th1/Th2 cytokine profile imbalance. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the L. plantarum L67 strain is a potential food supplement and starter culture, that could help in the prevention of Th2-related immune disorders.

This study was to investigate whether the bioactivity of L. plantarum L67 can be enhanced by treatment with Zanthoxylum piperitum DC (ZPDC) glycoprotein or compounds of similar molecular weights (24 kDa). When L. plantarum L67 was treated with ZPDC glycoprotein of various concentrations, the intensities of a few SDS-PAGE bands were slightly changed. The amount of a 23-kDa protein was increased upon treatment with increasing concentrations of ZPDC glycoprotein. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, and CAT), growth rate, and β-galactosidase activity were more increased at treatment with ZPDC glycoprotein than at treatment of L. plantarum L67 only, whereas the ATPase activity was decreased. Interestingly, it did not affect scavenging activity for the DPPH. The founding result suggest that, one of beneficial strategies for increase the bioactivity of L. plantarum L67 might be to take ZPDC.