title: Cord blood mononuclear cell responsiveness to beta-lactoglobulin: T-cell activity in 'atopy-prone' and 'non-atopy-prone' newborns.
abstract: We have studied the T-cell-mediated response to the major allergen of cow's milk, in a group of newborns at risk of developing cow's milk allergy, and in a control group. Before any atopic status has developed, we observe beta-lactoglobulin-specific primary proliferation only in the group at risk for food-related allergies. In this group, the capability to proliferate is not due to placental transmission of 'factors' from allergic mothers. The recognition of the tested beta-lactoglobulin peptides does not show major differences between the responder and nonresponder populations. In the responder population, the response to p145-161 appears linked to a primary response to ovalbumin, another frequent food allergen. On the basis of our findings, we propose a model in which development of allergic diseases is linked to an alteration of T-cell activation through the engagement by the antigen; the HLA phenotype determines the allergen(s) involved, and other genetic or environmental factors dictate the clinical characteristics of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piastra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stabile
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fioravanti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castagnola
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ria
mesh_terms: D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007782:Lactoglobulins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D010047:Ovalbumin