Inter-relationship between mucosal and systemic immunity determining the balance between damage and defense in the bovine gut in response to environmental antigens.
At weaning, the complex interactions of macromolecular components embracing maternally derived antibodies and antigens of microbial and dietary origin, grossly influence the immune response, directing it towards protective or damaging reactions in the intestinal mucosa. In young calves, passively acquired maternal antibody surprisingly enhances the systemic IgG1 mediated type III hypersensitivity reactions to dietary antigen. Furthermore, unresponsiveness to orally administered protein antigen in the young calf fails to develop. Additionally, antigens from gram negative bacteria can influence the development of IgE mediated hypersensitivity reactions. In the normal deleterious gut reactions to protein antigens from the lumen, IgE responses infrequently occur, and are transient. However, these can be reinforced by simultaneous challenge with protein and microbial antigen. These observations bring some new perspectives on health and nutrition of young farm animals at weaning.
Department of Immunology, Unilever Research Laboratory, Sharnbrook, Beds, Bedford, England.
P
P
Porter
J R
JR
Powell
M E
ME
Barratt
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D008892:Milk / Q000276:immunology; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D030262:Soybean Proteins
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000941:Antigens; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary; D030262:Soybean Proteins