title: Jejunal response to beta-lactoglobulin in infants with cow's milk allergy.
abstract: Weaning is a transient period of life during which maternal proteins are replaced by foreign proteins. Concomitantly, in early postnatal life, both digestive and immune systems undergo a maturation process. Allergy to cow's milk protein may develop in human infants during weaning, determining digestive, respiratory, cutaneous or systemic symptoms. We studied the intestinal response to bovine milk beta-lactoglobulin (beta-LG) in infants with cow's milk allergy, first during the active phase, and then during the symptom-free stage. During the active phase, transepithelial transport of the beta-LG across the intestinal epithelial layer stimulated the sensitized subepithelial immune cells. This stimulation induced a rise in short-circuit current suggestive of an electrogenic chloride secretion and impaired protein handling by the epithelium. These findings underline the dual role of the epithelial layer in intestinal function: on one hand, it takes an active part in allowing dietary antigens to stimulate the submucosal system, and on the other hand becomes the target for mediators involved in food allergy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de physiologie de la nutrition, Université d'Oran, Algérie.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saidi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heyman
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kheroua
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boudraa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bylsma
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kerroucha
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chekroun
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Maragi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Touhami
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Desjeux
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D007782:Lactoglobulins; D007768:Lactalbumin