Antigenic specificity of serum antibodies in mice fed soy protein

TY - JOUR

T1 - Antigenic specificity of serum antibodies in mice fed soy protein

AU - Christensen, Hanne R

AU - Bruun, Susanne Wrang

AU - Frøkiaer, Hanne

N1 - Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel

PY - 2003/9

Y1 - 2003/9

N2 - BACKGROUND: Soybean protein is used in a number of food products but unfortunately is also a common cause of food allergy. Upon ingestion of soy protein, healthy mice like other animals and humans generate a soy-specific antibody response in the absence of signs of illness. Not much is known about the relationship between the immunogenic proteins involved in this nondeleterious antibody response and the pathological response associated with food allergy. The objective of the present study was to characterize the antigenic specificity of the soy protein-specific antibody response generated in healthy mice ingesting soy protein.METHODS: Blood from mice fed a soy-containing diet was analyzed using ELISA and immunoblot for antibody reactivity towards various soy protein fractions and pure soy proteins/subunits. Mice bred on a soy-free diet were used as controls.RESULTS: The detectable antigenic specificity of the serum antibodies of soy-consuming mice comprised glycinin and beta-conglycinin. Immunoblots with soy protein extract demonstrated antibody reactivity towards both the basic and the acidic chains of glycinin and the beta-conglycinin subunits with an individual response pattern among mice. Moreover, antibody reactivity was found towards the native quaternary structure of glycinin.CONCLUSIONS: Mice ingesting soy protein generate an antibody response with reactivity towards glycinin and beta-conglycinin. Antibody reactivity found towards the native quaternary structure of glycinin indicates an oral immunogenicity of the highly processing-resistant oligomerized glycinin.

AB - BACKGROUND: Soybean protein is used in a number of food products but unfortunately is also a common cause of food allergy. Upon ingestion of soy protein, healthy mice like other animals and humans generate a soy-specific antibody response in the absence of signs of illness. Not much is known about the relationship between the immunogenic proteins involved in this nondeleterious antibody response and the pathological response associated with food allergy. The objective of the present study was to characterize the antigenic specificity of the soy protein-specific antibody response generated in healthy mice ingesting soy protein.METHODS: Blood from mice fed a soy-containing diet was analyzed using ELISA and immunoblot for antibody reactivity towards various soy protein fractions and pure soy proteins/subunits. Mice bred on a soy-free diet were used as controls.RESULTS: The detectable antigenic specificity of the serum antibodies of soy-consuming mice comprised glycinin and beta-conglycinin. Immunoblots with soy protein extract demonstrated antibody reactivity towards both the basic and the acidic chains of glycinin and the beta-conglycinin subunits with an individual response pattern among mice. Moreover, antibody reactivity was found towards the native quaternary structure of glycinin.CONCLUSIONS: Mice ingesting soy protein generate an antibody response with reactivity towards glycinin and beta-conglycinin. Antibody reactivity found towards the native quaternary structure of glycinin indicates an oral immunogenicity of the highly processing-resistant oligomerized glycinin.

KW - Animals

KW - Antigens, Plant

KW - Blotting, Western

KW - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

KW - Epitopes

KW - Food Hypersensitivity

KW - Globulins

KW - Immunoglobulin G

KW - Mice

KW - Mice, Inbred BALB C

KW - Seed Storage Proteins

KW - Soybean Proteins

KW - Soybeans

U2 - 73265

DO - 73265

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 14555859

SN - 1018-2438

VL - 132

SP - 58

EP - 67

JO - International Archives of Allergy and Immunology

JF - International Archives of Allergy and Immunology

IS - 1

ER -