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Intestinal anaphylaxis: rapid changes in mucosal ion transport and morphology
D A Baron1, A W Baird, A W Cuthbert
1Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425.
The American Journal of Physiology
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Beta-lactoglobulin (beta LG) triggers anaphylactic reactions in guinea pig intestinal tissues. Antigen challenge causes rapid changes in ion transport and distinct structural alterations in the ileum and colon.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Cow milk allergy can cause anaphylactic reactions.
- Beta-lactoglobulin (beta LG) is a major cow milk allergen.
- Intestinal mucosa responds to antigen challenge with altered ion transport.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphological changes in guinea pig intestinal mucosa during anaphylactic reactions.
- To correlate structural alterations with changes in short-circuit current (SCC) following antigen challenge.
Main Methods:
- Isolated colonic and ileal mucosae from sensitized guinea pigs were used.
- Tissues were challenged with beta LG.
- Morphological characterization was performed at the peak of the SCC response.
- Passive sensitization with immune sera was also employed.
Main Results:
- Antigen challenge induced significant structural alterations in both ileal and colonic mucosa.
- Ileal goblet cells showed compound exocytosis of mucous granules from crypts.
- Colonic goblet cells did not secrete mucus, but crypt architecture was altered.
- These morphological changes correlated significantly with SCC changes.
Conclusions:
- Antigen challenge in sensitized intestinal mucosa elicits temporally related, diverse morphological and ion transport changes.
- Beta LG-induced anaphylaxis involves distinct cellular responses in the ileum and colon.
- Morphological changes are closely linked to the observed ion transport alterations.