Allergenicity of α‐caseins from cow, sheep, and goat

Abstract

The allergic potential of alpha-caseins from bovine, ovine, and goat's milk sharing more than 85% identical amino acids was compared. Caseins were purified by anion-exchange chromatography and used for a specific IgE and IgG ELISA with diluted human sera. Sera were from 17 children with immediate-type allergy to cow's milk, from 59 children with atopy but without food allergy, and from 27 healthy children without atopy disease. The sera of cow's milk-allergic children showed a significantly higher IgE and IgG binding to alpha-caseins from all three species than the sera of the other groups. All groups showed an increased antibody binding to bovine alpha-casein compared to the sheep and goat proteins, but the differences were significant only in the groups of atopic children and of healthy controls. Furthermore, inhibition of the IgE binding to bovine alpha-casein with alpha-casein from cow, goat, and sheep revealed that the alpha-casein from these species are highly cross-reactive; on the basis of the small differences in their primary structure. In conclusion, the milk of goat and sheep harbor an allergic potential and is not suitable for the nutrition of milk-allergic patients.

Milk hypersensitivity in young adults

“…Appearance of IgE is known to correlate with hypersensitivity reactions but the clinical relevance of IgG, IgA and IgM isotypes produced in response to dietary antigens is obscure (Bruijnzeel-Koomen et al, 1995). Most recently published papers suggest that IgG and IgA may have a role in hypersensitivity reactions (Keller et al, 1996;Marinkovich, 1996;Wutrich, 1996;Awazuhara et al, 1997;Duchen et al, 1997;Kolopp-Sarda et al, 1997;Shimojo et al, 1997;Spuergin et al, 1997). In our previous study, IgE was not a major antibody in milk-hypersensitive adults (Pelto et al, 1998).…”

Uso nutricional e terapêutico do leite de cabra

“…Porém, apesar dos bons resultados apresentados acima, vários trabalhos realizados em laboratório ou com indivíduos alérgicos a proteína do leite de vaca, testaram como alternativa o uso de leite de cabra, e observaram que as reações alérgicas continuaram, onde concluíram que o leite de cabra não deve ser usado como um substituto para crianças alérgicas a proteína do leite de vaca (DEAN et al, 1993;SPUERGIN et al, 1997;BELLIONI-BUSINCO et al, 1999;RESTANI et al, 1999). Spuergin et al (1997) compararam o potencial alergênico da α-caseína dos leites de vaca, cabra e ovelha, e observaram uma alta reatividade cruzada entre estes leites, o que segundo os autores foi devido a grande similaridade entre estas proteínas, que possuem mais de 85% de aminoa-ácidos idênticos.…”

“…Spuergin et al (1997) compararam o potencial alergênico da α-caseína dos leites de vaca, cabra e ovelha, e observaram uma alta reatividade cruzada entre estes leites, o que segundo os autores foi devido a grande similaridade entre estas proteínas, que possuem mais de 85% de aminoa-ácidos idênticos. Resultados como esses, levaram a Sociedade Européia de Alergologia Pediátrica e Imunologia Clínica e a Sociedade de Gastroenterologia Pediátrica, Hepatologia e Nutrição a emitir um parecer conjunto sugerindo que dietas baseadas em proteínas não modificadas de leites de cabra e ovinos, entre outras espécies, ou em fórmulas infantis com proteínas parcialmente hidrolisadas não devem ser usadas no tratamento da alergia a proteína do leite de vaca.…”

Cross Reactivity between Dromedary Whey Proteins and IgG Anti Bovine α-Lactalbumin and Anti Bovine β-Lactoglobulin

“…Consequently, cross reactions occur when two different milk proteins can bind the same immunoglobulins (Ig). Thus, there is a risk of cross reactivity between cow's milk and goat's milk [2][3][4] and between mare's milk and ewe's milk [5][6][7][8][9] . The dromedary remains the species taxonomically farthest away from the cow and for which there is little data on the antigenic properties of its milk proteins.…”