title: Immune-modulating properties of horse milk administered to mice sensitized to cow milk.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine immune adaptive changes, the expression of innate biomarkers and variations in intestinal microbiota composition after horse-milk administration in BALB/c mice, which were sensitized intraperitoneally using cow β-lactoglobulin and α-casein with aluminum adjuvant. We measured serum antibody IgE levels and the expression of MCP-1, IL-4, and TNF-α in duodenal samples. Changes in immune cell populations in peripheral blood were quantified using flow cytometry, and intestinal microbiota composition was assessed using real-time PCR. We found that horse-milk administration decreased serum IgE levels in sensitized mice. The groups that received horse milk showed an increased population of regulatory T cells (CD4+Foxp3+). Horse-milk administration decreased the mRNA levels of IL-4 and resulted in higher transcripts of TLR-4 in all treatment groups; however, the levels of MCP-1, TNF-α, and TLR-2 were unaltered. After horse-milk treatment, we observed a positive effect, with increased numbers of intestinal Bifidobacterium spp. We observed immune-modulating properties of horse milk, but future studies should focus on testing horse-milk processing, such as fermentation and destroying most allergenic epitopes to continue research under clinical conditions.
authors: Department of Immunology and Food Microbiology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Fotschki
authors: Department of Immunology and Food Microbiology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Szyc
authors: Immunonutrition and Health Group, Valencian International University, C/Gorgos 5-7, 46021 Valencia, Spain.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Laparra
authors: Department of Immunology and Food Microbiology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland.
authors: L H
authors: LH
authors: Markiewicz
authors: Department of Immunology and Food Microbiology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland. Electronic address: b.wroblewska@pan.olsztyn.pl.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Wróblewska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002364:Caseins / Q000235:genetics; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008892:Milk; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D007782:Lactoglobulins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: BALB/c mice; cow milk protein allergy; equine milk; mare milk