Development of immune response to cow's milk proteins in infants receiving cow's milk or hydrolyzed formula.
BACKGROUND
Development of humoral and cellular immune responses to orally administered antigens in human beings is poorly understood, although antigen administration has been suggested as a treatment for hypersensitivity disorders and autoimmune diseases.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to investigate the development of systemic immune response in infants fed with formula containing whole cow's milk proteins or hydrolyzed formula containing casein peptides.


METHODS
In a double-blind trial, 10 infants received cow's milk-based formula, and 10 infants received a casein hydrolysate formula until the age of 9 months. Blood samples were taken at the ages of 6, 9, and 12 months. Cellular responses were assessed by proliferation assay of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to cow's milk proteins (beta-lactoglobulin, bovine serum albumin, and alpha-casein). Humoral responses to the same proteins were measured by ELISA for IgG antibodies.


RESULTS
Feeding infants with cow's milk-based formula induced systemic humoral and cellular responses to cow's milk proteins. T-cell response later declined, supporting the concept of oral tolerization. Exposure to cow's milk proteins after the age of 9 months resulted in depressed cellular and humoral responsiveness to these proteins.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support the view that induction of oral tolerance in human beings is an age-dependent phenomenon.
Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of Helsinki, Finland.
O
O
Vaarala
T
T
Saukkonen
E
E
Savilahti
T
T
Klemola
H K
HK
Akerblom
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D002364:Caseins / Q000276:immunology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011492:Protein Hydrolysates / Q000276:immunology
D002364:Caseins; D008894:Milk Proteins; D011492:Protein Hydrolysates