Abstract
Food proteins may cross the gastrointestinal mucosa antigenically intact and elicit an immune response which in most individuals is not damaging. We have investigated the levels of milk protein antigens circulating after feeding in pre-term babies, normal children and adults and compared the type of immune response elicited with that found in atopic subjects challenged with the food substance to which they react.
Very high levels of circulating B lactoglobulin (up to 100 µg/l) were found in premature infants fed a cows’ milk based formula (SMA). The levels varied according to gestational age with highest levels obtained in babies of 28–32 weeks whereas the levels found in babies near or at full-term were akin to those of older children and adults (1–3 µg/l). This suggests that gut closure usually occurs in humans prior to birth.
Using an immune complex splitting assay and ones which demonstrate the immunoglobulin class involved, we have shown that in normal adults immune complexes containing β lac to globulin and BSA circulate after drinking milk and the predominant immunoglobulin class involved is IgA. In contrast, children and adults with atopic eczema after eating milk or eggs have higher levels of circulating antigen and/or antigen containing complexes and the immunoglobulin classes involved are predominantly IgG and IgÈ. The complexes also react with Clq. These differences in immune response to oral antigens will be discussed in relation to mechanisms of oral tolerance in normal individuals and the immuno-pathology of the disease in patients with atopic zczema.
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© 1981 ECSC, EEC, EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg
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Levinsky, R.J., Paganelli, R., Robertson, D.M., Atherton, D.J. (1981). Food Antigen Handling and Immune Complex Formation in Healthy and Allergic Individuals. In: Bourne, F.J. (eds) The Mucosal Immune System. Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, vol 12. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8331-1_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8331-1_8
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