Transfer of cow's milk beta-lactoglobulin to human serum after a milk load: a pilot study.

Abstract

A sensitive and specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the quantification of cow's milk 1-lactoglobulin in human serum. The assay had a sensitivity of 80 pg/ml (2 standard deviations from zero) and did not cross react significantly with any other tested milk proteins. The absorption of cow's milk 3-lactoglobulin and 1-lactoglobulin immunoglobulin G antibody levels after a milk load was investigated in eight healthy non-allergic individuals. There was a significant variation in the circulating ,3-lactoglobulin antigen levels during the six hour period after feeding (p<001) for the combined data. A biphasic absorption pattern was seen in all subjects except one subject who had undetectable levels. No significant variation with time was observed for the ,B-lactoglobulin IgG antibody levels and no correlation was found between the 3-lactoglobulin antigen levels and the ,B-lactoglobulin IgG antibody levels. This pilot study offered information on the quantity of immunogenic cows' milk protein transferred to the blood after a milk load in non-allergic healthy adults and confirmed a biphasic profile of antigen transfer. The sensitivity of the assay used has shown that transfer of food antigen does occur in the majority of healthy nonallergic subjects.

Milk hypersensitivity in young adults

“…Undegraded dietary antigens can penetrate the intestinal epithelial surface in immunologically signi®cant quantities in healthy and hypersensitive subjects (Lovegrove et al, 1993). Transferred antigens stimulate the production of speci®c antibodies which is, however, strictly controlled in healthy subjects (Challacombe & Tomasi, 1980).…”

Demonstration of Inhibitory Effect of Oral Shark Cartilage on Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor-Induced Angiogenesis in the Rabbit Cornea.

“…For instance, it was shown that albumin and b-lactoglobulin are transported through the intestinal mucosal barrier using luminal and intercellular routes. 23,24) Notably, the maximal antiangiogenic effect achieved with WSF was less than that with orally administered shark cartilage, which may have been due to a delayed effect as noted above. Oral PSC was given prior to, as well as after, bFGF pellet implantation, that resulted in an earlier antiangiogenic effect.…”

Shark Cartilage as Source of Antiangiogenic Compounds: From Basic to Clinical Research.

“…It has been shown that albumin and b-lactoglobulin are transported through luminal or intercellular routes in small but significant quantities and that the rate of absorption is related to the amount of protein ingested and to some macromolecular characteristics such as molecular weight. 27,28) Conflicting Results in Studies with Shark Cartilage Although there is an increasing body of evidence showing that shark cartilage has potent antiangiogenic and antitumoral activities, some negativity can be found in the scientific literature concerning the usefulness of shark cartilage and derived compounds in the treatment of cancer and/or other angiogenesis-dependent diseases. This contrary viewpoint comes principally from two aspects: first, the lack of positive convincing results in clinical trials with the use of shark cartilage derived products, and second, the notion that cartilage-derived polypeptide factors are insufficiently absorbed through the intestinal wall after oral administration.…”

“…As noted above, intact macromolecules, even insulin, can cross the intestinal barrier in a biologically active form and thus exert their pharmacological actions. 27,28) This absorption process may also occur with the active compounds of shark cartilage.…”