title: Total IgE levels in human colostrum.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the total IgE levels in the supernatants and cellular components of colostrum from atopic and nonatopic mothers. Immunoglobulin E protein was detected in 34/39 milk samples, with a median level of 0.3 microgram/l. In 13 mothers, IgE protein was also detected in the cellular fraction of colostrum, with a median level of 0.13 microgram/l. Of the total IgE content in breast milk, 5-12% was transported intracellularly. The total IgE antibody levels were similar in both milk supernatants and cells from atopic and nonatopic mothers. There was a strong relationship between total IgE antibody levels in serum and in breast milk (r = 1.0, P < 0.001), suggesting that IgE antibodies were passively transported from blood into breast milk. The levels of total IgE in human milk are probably too low to have a significant effect on the regulation of the IgE antibody levels in the neonate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duchén
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Björkstén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000378:metabolism*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E