Relationship between maternal- and fetal-specific IgE.
OBJECTIVE
A positive correlation between maternal and cord-blood IgE levels is well documented for total IgEs, but not for specific IgEs. The difficulty in detecting specific cord-blood IgEs is due to their low concentrations, which hinder their dosage by low-sensitivity methods. The study aimed to correlate maternal and foetal specific IgEs against individual cow's milk proteins, detected by highly sensitive and specific techniques.


METHODS
Cow's milk specific IgE detection was performed by chemiluminescence on 52 specimens of maternal and cord blood after cow's milk protein separation by 1D and 2D gel electrophoresis. Cow's milk protein (CMP) antigens were identified by mass spectrometry techniques.


RESULTS
Specific IgEs for CMPs were found in 25/52 (48.1%) of maternal sera and in 19/52 (37%) of cord-blood sera. In order of decreasing frequency, the proteins found were BSA, IgG heavy chain, caseins and, in a single case, b-lactoglobulin. Positive cord-blood sera in all cases corresponded to a positive maternal result, and maternal and foetal immunoreactivity patterns were closely correlated. Moreover, in no case was there a positive cord-blood response with a negative maternal response.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrates a close relationship between maternal and cord-blood specific IgE patterns. The phenomenon observed could provide a model to elucidate the general production method of foetal IgEs, which might only be produced in the presence of both the corresponding maternal IgE and the related allergen.
Bertino
Enrico
E
Neonatal Unit, Department of Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 94, Turin, Italy. enrico.bertino@unito.it
Bisson
Carolina
C
Martano
Claudio
C
Coscia
Alessandra
A
Fabris
Claudio
C
Monti
Giovanna
G
Testa
Tiziana
T
Conti
Amedeo
A
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D040901:Proteomics
D000485:Allergens; D008894:Milk Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E