Elevated Concentrations of Salivary Secretory Immunoglobulin A Anti-Cow’s Milk Protein in Newborns at Risk of Allergy

Abstract

Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) anti-casein and SIgA anti-β-lactoglobulin (BLG) were determined in the saliva of 158 healthy mature infants at birth and in breast milk samples using a direct Elisa technique. IgG anti-casein and anti-BLG were measured in serum samples from mothers and newborns (cord blood). A high risk of allergy was defined in 66 infants who had cord blood (CB)-IgE levels ≥0.9 IU/ml and/or parents with atopic diseases. Thirty infants had CB levels <0.9 IU/ml and parents without clinical symptoms of atopy but with elevated serum IgE concentrations or type I skin reactions to common allergens (low risk). Sixty-two infants had CB-IgE levels <0.9 IU/ml and healthy parents (no risk). The groups were matched for social status, smoking and dietary habits. SIgA anti-casein and anti-BLG were detected in all newborns. SIgA anti-casein was significantly higher (p <0.05) in high risk infants (median 157; 50% confidence limits 45–270) than in no risk (48; 25–150) or low risk infants (43; 21–130). SIgA anti-casein values correlated with maternal allergy, maternal allergy plus CB-IgE, but not with paternal allergy. Breast milk SIgA anti-BLG was depressed (p <0.05) in mothers with manifest allergy compared to healthy mothers. Determination of salivary SIgA anti-casein may represent an additional screening method for early detection of infants with atopic disposition.

Imunidade relacionada à resposta alérgica no início da vida

“…Durante o primeiro ano de vida, o sistema imune expõe-se a uma ampla variedade de antígenos, sobretudo alimentares, os quais podem ativar a resposta imune mediada por IgG, IgA, IgM e IgE 42,43 . Além disso, a falta de atuação protetora da IgA secretora, ainda que transitória, também eleva o risco de exposição a tais antígenos, possibilitando atopia subseqüente 16 .…”

Total and allergen‐specific immunoglobulin A levels in saliva in relation to the development of allergy in infants up to 2 years of age

“…This is controversial, however, as a tendency towards the opposite has also been reported [6]. Furthermore, Renz et al reported higher levels of SIgA to casein, but not to b-lactoglobulin (BLG), in saliva at birth in children who developed atopic disease during the ®rst 3 years of life, as compared with those who did not [7].…”

Evaluation of Total and Allergen-Specific Secretory IgA in Tears of Allergic Conjunctival Disease Patients

“…In patients with cow's milk allergy, an abnormal increase of allergen-specifi c sIgA in the saliva is a disposing factor to atopic disorder. 7 However, few studies have investigated variations in the amount of total sIgA and allergen-specifi c sIgA in the tears of patients with ACD.…”