Effect of ingestion of cow's milk protein hydrolysate formulas on alpha-casein-specific immunoglobulin E and G1 antibody responses in naïve and sensitized mice.
OBJECTIVE
Cow's milk protein hydrolysate formulas are widely used for genetically predisposed atopic infants. Whether hydrolysate formulas can induce oral tolerance to alpha-casein was studied for the first time in naive and sensitized mice.


METHODS
Using immunoblotting, residual antigenicity to alpha-casein was examined for in animals fed hydrolysate formulas. Naïve mice fed hydrolysate formulas for 1 to 4 weeks were later sensitized with alpha-casein. Another group of mice sensitized first with alpha-casein were then fed hydrolysate formulas continually for 12 weeks.


RESULTS
Oral tolerance measured by immunoglobulin (Ig)E and IgG1 antibody responses to alpha-casein was induced in naïve mice fed NAN for 1 week or NAN-HA for 4 weeks. IgE responses to alpha-casein were suppressed in mice fed NAN-HA for 1 week or Neoangelac FL for 4 weeks. In contrast, mice fed Alfare, Pepti-Junior, or Pregestimil for 1 to 4 weeks did not develop tolerance to alpha-casein. Antibody responses to alpha-casein were not significantly suppressed in sensitized mice fed NAN or hydrolysate formulas for 12 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary IgE responses to alpha-casein are readily suppressed in naïve mice first fed cow's milk formula or partially hydrolyzed formula for 1 week. Conversely, ongoing IgE, IgG1, and IgG antibody responses to alpha-casein are poorly suppressed in previously sensitized mice even after prolonged feeding of cow's milk formula or hydrolysate formulas.
Peng
Ho-Jen
HJ
Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan. hjpeng@vghtpe.gov.tw
Su
Song-Nan
SN
Wu
Keh-Gong
KG
Ho
Chi-Kuan
CK
Kuo
Hsiang-Lan
HL
D000818:Animals; D002364:Caseins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D041943:Infant Formula; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D002364:Caseins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008894:Milk Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E