title: Effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supplementation on cow's milk allergy in a mouse model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most prevalent human food-borne allergies, particularly in infants and young children from developed countries. Our study aims to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) administration on CMA development using whole cow's milk proteins (CMP) sensitized Balb/C mice by two different sensitization methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  LGG supplemented mice were either sensitized orally with CMP and cholera toxin B-subunit (CTB) as adjuvant, or intraperitoneally (IP) with CMP but without the adjuvant. Mice were then orally challenged with CMP and allergic responses were accessed by monitoring hypersensitivity scores, measuring the levels of CMP-specific immunoglobulins (IgG1, IgG2a and IgG) and total IgE from sera, and cytokines (IL-4 and IFN-γ) from spleen lysates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sensitization to CMP was successful only in IP sensitized mice, but not in orally sensitized mice with CMP and CTB. Interestingly, LGG supplementation appeared to have reduced cow's milk allergy (CMA) in the IP group of mice, as indicated by lowered allergic responses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adjuvant-free IP sensitization with CMP was successful in inducing CMA in the Balb/C mice model. LGG supplementation favourably modulated immune reactions by shifting Th2-dominated trends toward Th1-dominated responses in CMP sensitized mice. Our results also suggest that oral sensitization by the co-administration of CMP and CTB, as adjuvant, might not be appropriate to induce CMA in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Macdonald Campus, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada. xin.zhao@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Cin L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Thang
authors.forename: Bushansingh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baurhoo
authors.forename: Joyce I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Boye
authors.forename: Benjamin K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao