In recent years, there has been abundant research concerning human microbiome and its impact on the host’s health. Studies have shown that not only the commensal bacteria itself, but also postbiotics, understood as inanimate microorganisms, possibly with the presence of their components, may themselves have an effect on various elements of human physiology. In this review, we take a closer look at the specific ways in which postbiotics can alter immune response in allergic asthma, which is one of the most prevalent allergic diseases in today’s world and a serious subject of concern. Through altering patients’ immune response, not only to allergens but also to pathogens, postbiotics could have a significant role in lowering the number of asthma exacerbations. We suggest that more profound research should be undertaken in order to launch postbiotics into clinical standards of asthma treatment, given the greatly promising findings in terms of their immunomodulating potential.

Recent years have been abundant in research concerning human microbiome and its impact on the host’s health. Studies have shown, that not only the commensal bacteria itself, but also postbiotics, understood as unalived microorganisms, possibly with the presence of their components, may have themselves effect on various elements of human physiology. In this article we take a closer look on the specific ways in which postbiotics can alter immune response in allergic asthma, which is one of the most prevalent allergic diseases in today’s world being a serious subject of concern. Through altering patients’ immune response, not only to allergens but also to pathogens, postbiotics could have a significant role in lowering the number of asthma exacerbations. We suggest that more profound research should be undertaken in order to launch postbiotics into clinical standards of asthma treatment, given greatly promising findings in the field of their immunomodulating potential.

(1) Pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) is a relatively rare complication of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). So far, it is unclear why COVID-19 in children has usually mild or asymptomatic courses, whereas PIMS, which develops several weeks after COVID-19, is a serious life-threatening condition. (2) In this proof-of-concept study, using the ELISA method, we compared selected clinical and immunological parameters in small groups of children with PIMS and COVID-19. Children with various inflammatory diseases were included as a control. (3) Patients with PIMS revealed significantly higher levels of pro-inflammatory molecules (C-reactive protein and IL-6) and markers of heart injury (troponin I and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide) as compared to other groups. Moreover, these markers correlated with increased levels of soluble receptors for tumor necrosis factor (sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2). (4) Our observation may be a step forward to better understand the phenomenon of mild COVID-19 in children and its severe complications in PIMS. It is hypothesized that the delayed inflammation results in excessive cardiomyocyte damage and the release of sTNF-R1 and -R2. Therefore, possibly the involvement of the TNF pathway in PIMS could be explored as a potential therapeutic target. However, further studies are required to validate this approach.