The Beneficial Role of Probiotic Lactobacillus in Respiratory Diseases

Abstract

Respiratory diseases cause a high incidence and mortality worldwide. As a natural immunobiotic, <i>Lactobacillus</i> has excellent immunomodulatory ability. Administration of some <i>Lactobacillus</i> species can alleviate the symptoms of respiratory diseases such as respiratory tract infections, asthma, lung cancer and cystic fibrosis in animal studies and clinical trials. The beneficial effect of <i>Lactobacillus</i> on the respiratory tract is strain dependent. Moreover, the efficacy of <i>Lactobacillus</i> may be affected by many factors, such as bacteria dose, timing and host background. Here, we summarized the beneficial effect of administered <i>Lactobacillus</i> on common respiratory diseases with a focus on the mechanism and safety of <i>Lactobacillus</i> in regulating respiratory immunity.