title: Modulation of immune responses by bovine beta-casein.
abstract: The present reports the influence of bovine beta-casein on in vitro and in vivo immune responses. Bovine beta-casein showed an inhibitory effect on ovine neutrophil chemotaxis but had an enhancing effect on superoxide production by neutrophils. In response to mitogenic stimulation, the proliferative response of both T and B lymphocytes was significantly enhanced by beta-casein. While beta-casein had no significant effects on IFN gamma production by ovine blood lymphocytes, and TNF alpha production and MCH Class II antigen expression by ovine bronchoalveolar macrophages, it enhanced IL-1 beta production by the macrophages, beta-casein also had no influence on bovine NK cell activity against a virally-infected cell line. Interestingly, beta-casein was found to reduce the adjuvant effect of matrix immune stimulating complexes (ISCOM) on anti-ovalbumin antibody response in mice when given intramuscularly. Taken together, the results suggest that bovine beta-casein had selective modulating effects in vitro on both innate and adaptive immune responses in ruminants, whereas systemic administration of beta-casein, that might have a depressive effect on adjuvant activity, requires further study.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Division of Animal Health, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Seow
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Husband
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Smithers
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002364:Caseins / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D012756:Sheep; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D002364:Caseins; D016207:Cytokines; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma