Effect of a Low Protein Diet on the Capacity of Mice to Express a Type I Hypersensitivity Response

Abstract

The capacity of Balb/c mice maintained since weaning on a 4% protein diet to express in vivo immediate (type 1) hypersensitivity reactions was compared to that of age-matched animals maintained on a normal (18%) protein diet. The deprived mice had a lower total cellular population and lower mast cell numbers in their peritoneal cavity. However, the mean cellular histamine content was comparable between the two groups. The skin responses of malnourished mice to the histamine liberator 48/80 were depressed but both groups reacted equally to passive cutaneous anaphylaxis when sensitized with serum from immunized mice. These studies indicate that protein deprivation has not inhibited the capacity to synthesize physiologically active amines or to impair the biochemical pathway of amine release from mast cells.

Effect of body mass on exercise-induced bronchospasm and atopy in African children

“…Animal studies also support the view that undernutrition can reduce atopic responses. A low-protein diet in balb/c mice reduces the skin responses to a histamine liberator, histamine, 30 and allergens. 31 Defects in humoral immunity have also been shown in mice after both acute 32 and chronic starvation, 33 and rats have shown a reduction in IgE binding sites on mast cells, 34 reduction in IgE, and inhibition of anaphylaxis in the lungs of sensitized animals, 35 and reduction in IL-4 and mast cells 36 when nutritional intake was reduced.…”

Nutrition and allergic disease

“…Animal studies also support the view that undernutrition can reduce atopic responses. A low protein diet in balb/c mice reduces the skin responses to a histamine liberator [149], histamine [149] and allergens [150]. Defects in humoral immunity have also been shown in mice following both acute [151] and chronic starvation [152], and rat studies have shown a reduction in IgE binding sites on mast cells [153], reduction in IgE and inhibition of anaphylaxis in the lungs of sensitized animals [154], and reduction in IL‐4 and mast cells [155] when nutritional intake was reduced.…”