[The immunogenicity and allergenicity of an experimental cow's milk protein hydrolysate]

Abstract

Recently hydrolyzed cow milk proteins have been introduced for the production of infant formulas and are available as hypoallergenic infant formulas. To achieve a decrease in antigenicity and allergenicity a protein hydrolysis (mostly enzymatic) is performed. Sera of different groups were tested for IgG and IgE antibody-binding: 31 controls, 36 atopic children, and 20 children with cow milk protein allergy. Histamine release from basophil leucocytes after incubation with the cow milk proteins beta-lactoglobuline and casein, as with the cow milk protein hydrolysate, was determined additionally for five control, 10 atopic, and five cow milk allergic children. IgG binding to cow milk protein and to the hydrolysate was found in the majority of the sera tested. IgE binding was detectable in sera of only five of the 10 cow milk allergic children, despite detection of specific IgE-antibodies against cow milk proteins in all sera. Histamine release by the cow milk hydrolysate was observed for five atopic and two cow milk allergic children. The cow milk hydrolysate demonstrated a decreased but partially conserved antigenic/allergenic potency compared with cow milk proteins.