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Xenogeneic antibodies and atopic disease
1Department of Genetics and Human Variation, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
Lancet (London, England)
|April 2, 1988
Summary
Xenogeneic antibodies from food survive digestion and can impact the human immune system. This may explain allergies to environmental substances like pollen, linked to consuming dairy products.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Food Science
Background:
- Xenogeneic antibodies can survive food processing, retaining biological activity.
- These antibodies can be absorbed from the gut, functioning as antigens and antibodies in humans.
- Anti-bovine gamma globulin (BGG) antibodies, including anti-idiotypic ones, are found in human sera.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a hypothesis on how xenogeneic antibodies prime the human immune system.
- To explore the link between dietary xenogeneic antibodies and allergies to environmental allergens.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and hypothesis formulation.
- Analysis of antibody absorption and immune function.
Main Results:
- Xenogeneic antibodies can be absorbed and influence the human immune system.
- Low-level exposure may prime the immune system for inappropriate responses to allergens.
- Dairy products are a significant source of dietary xenogeneic antibodies.
Conclusions:
- Xenogeneic antibodies in food may contribute to allergies beyond milk proteins.
- Dietary exposure to xenogeneic antibodies could explain associations with environmental allergies.
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