Effect of a Low Protein Diet on IgE Antibody Responses in Balb/c Mice

Abstract

Mice maintained on a low protein diet (4% casein initiated at weaning) produced IgE antibody responses to both ovalbumin and Ascaris body fluid proteins. The titres in young mice were comparable to those of mice maintained on a normal (20% protein) diet particularly at high doses of immunogen. However, following immunization with low doses of immunogen the initiation of antibody response in malnourished mice was delayed and the levels finally obtained were significantly suppressed below normal levels. This effect was more apparent in animals maintained for prolonged periods on diet. Possible mechanisms for this suppression are presented.

Low-Protein Diet Induces Oral Tolerance to Ovalbumin in Mice.

“…Some other factors affecting oral tolerance are known to be aging (3) and genetic back ground (8). Although there has been accumulated evi dence that nutritional status and some nutrients affect cellular and humoral immune responsiveness in hu mans (9,10) and rodents (11)(12)(13), few or perhaps no reports are present regarding the effects of nutritional status on oral tolerance to dietary antigens. In particu lar, nutritional status appears to be an influential factor for increased allergic reactions, judging from the rarity of allergic diseases until World War II and that they fre quently have been considered a social problem caused by recent changes of life and dietary habits in the past three decades (14)(15)(16).…”