title: Transfer of cow's milk beta-lactoglobulin to human serum after a milk load: a pilot study.
abstract: A sensitive and specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the quantification of cow's milk beta-lactoglobulin in human serum. The assay had a sensitivity of 80 pg/ml (2 standard deviations from zero) and did not cross react significantly with any other tested milk proteins. The absorption of cow's milk beta-lactoglobulin and beta-lactoglobulin immunoglobulin G antibody levels after a milk load was investigated in eight healthy non-allergic individuals. There was a significant variation in the circulating beta-lactoglobulin antigen levels during the six hour period after feeding (p < 0.01) for the combined data. A biphasic absorption pattern was seen in all subjects except one subject who had undetectable levels. No significant variation with time was observed for the beta-lactoglobulin IgG antibody levels and no correlation was found between the beta-lactoglobulin antigen levels and the beta-lactoglobulin IgG antibody levels. This pilot study offered information on the quantity of immunogenic cows' milk protein transferred to the blood after a milk load in non-allergic healthy adults and confirmed a biphasic profile of antigen transfer. The sensitivity of the assay used has shown that transfer of food antigen does occur in the majority of healthy nonallergic subjects.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lovegrove
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hampton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000276:immunology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007782:Lactoglobulins