title: Characterization of the potential allergenicity of irradiated bovine α-lactalbumin in a BALB/c mouse model.
abstract: Bovine α-lactalbumin (ALA) is a known food allergen present in milk to induce anaphylaxis. A previous study demonstrated that irradiated ALA (iALA) decreased the IgE-binding properties and weakened the degranulation capacity of basophils in vitro. The present study aimed to further assess the potential allergenicity of iALA in vivo in a BALB/c mouse model. The mice (n = 10/group) were intragastrically sensitized and orally challenged with either iALA or ALA using cholera toxin as adjuvant. In contrast to the ALA group, the iALA group did not show anaphylactic shock symptoms. A tendency toward decreased serum allergen-specific IgG/IgG1/IgE levels, plasma histamine levels and mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1) concentrations in the iALA group were also observed, accompanied by a decrease in Th2-related cytokine levels and an increase of IFN-γ production in spleen cell cultures. Moreover, the peritoneal mast cell surface expression of FcεRI and peripheral blood basophil CD200R+expression were decreased by 64.3% and 35.19%, respectively. Conversely, the percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+regulatory T cells increased in the iALA group. All of these findings indicated that iALA induces a shift toward the Th1 response, which ultimately reduces its potential allergenicity.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, PR China; School of Food Science & Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, PR China; Jiangxi-OAI Joint Research Institute, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, PR China.
authors.forename: Xuanyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, PR China; School of Food Science & Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, PR China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, PR China; School of Food Science & Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, PR China.
authors.forename: Jinyan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, PR China; Jiangxi-OAI Joint Research Institute, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, PR China. Electronic address: chenhongbing@ncu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hongbing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001491:Basophils / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006632:Histamine / Q000097:blood; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D006632:Histamine; D007768:Lactalbumin
keywords: Allergenicity; Irradiation; Mouse model; α-Lactalbumin