Gliadin-specific and cow's milk protein-specific IgA in human milk.
The presence of gliadin-specific IgA and IgG antibodies in colostrum and serum of 140 newly delivered mothers was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, cow's milk protein (CMP)-specific IgA was determined in the colostrum samples. From 14 of the mothers longitudinal milk samples were obtained after 1 and 2 months of lactation and from 12 mothers after 3 months. Gliadin-specific IgA was found in 97.1% and gliadin-specific IgG in 9.3% of the colostrum samples. Gliadin-specific IgA was detected in mature samples but at significantly lower levels after 1, 2, and 3 months of lactation (p less than 0.01) as compared with colostrum. Gliadin-specific IgA was found in 2.8% of the serum samples and gliadin-specific IgG in 40%; however, the levels of both isotypes were low. CMP-specific IgA was found in 78.1% of the colostrum samples. It is concluded that IgA antibodies to two common food proteins are frequently found in human milk and that food-specific IgA present in milk may play a role in adapting the infant's immune reactions to food antigens in the gut.
Juto
P
P
Department of Clinical Virology, University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.
Holm
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005903:Gliadin / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008894:Milk Proteins; D005903:Gliadin