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Maintenance of tolerance to cow's milk in atopic individuals is characterized by high levels of specific immunoglobulin G4
Author(s) -
Ruiter B.,
Knol E. F.,
Van Neerven R. J. J.,
Garssen J.,
BruijnzeelKoomen C. A. F. M.,
Knulst A. C.,
Van Hoffen E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2007.02749.x
Subject(s) - immunoglobulin e , allergy , medicine , immunology , milk allergy , casein , atopic dermatitis , atopy , antibody , house dust mite , radioallergosorbent test , food allergy , biology , food science
Summary Background The central role of specific IgE in cow's milk allergy (CMA) is well documented. However, less is known about the function of other immunoglobulin isotypes in allergy and tolerance to cow's milk proteins (CMPs). Objective To determine differences in the antibody responses that are associated with allergy and tolerance to cow's milk in allergic, atopic and non‐atopic individuals of different age groups. Methods Nineteen infants (<1 year), 18 children (6–14 years) and 41 adults (21–68 years) were included. Each age group was comprised of subjects with CMA, atopic individuals without a history of CMA and non‐atopic subjects. Levels of specific IgE, IgG4, IgG1 and IgA to whole cow's milk and the six most abundant individual CMPs were determined in plasma by ELISA. For comparison, specific IgE and IgG4 were measured to ovomucoid and house dust mite (HDM) in individuals allergic for the respective allergens, and in atopic and non‐atopic subjects without allergy. Results In infants and children with CMA, αs1‐casein and β‐lactoglobulin induced the highest specific IgE response, whereas αs1‐casein was the most allergenic CMP in adult patients. Specific IgG4 and IgG1 responses were the highest to αs1‐casein and β‐lactoglobulin in all age groups, while κ‐casein and α‐lactalbumin induced the highest levels of IgA. CMP‐specific IgG4 was higher in atopic children and adults without CMA, as compared with non‐atopic individuals. A similar difference between tolerant atopic and non‐atopic subjects was observed for IgG4 specific to ovomucoid, whereas HDM‐specific IgG4 was not detectable in these subjects. Conclusion Maintenance of tolerance to cow's milk in atopic children and adults without CMA is associated with elevated levels of specific IgG4, in combination with low specific IgE. The up‐regulation of specific IgG4 in tolerant atopic individuals may be related to the type of allergen and its regular dose of exposure.