Alterations of lymphocyte subpopulations and TGF-β in children with transient or persistent cow’s milk allergy

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in surface receptor expression of B and T lymphocytes and concentration of TGF-β in children who either developed tolerance to cow’s milk protein (CMP) or manifested persistent cow’s milk allergy (CMA). The study involved 30 patients with CMA who underwent an open food challenge after 12 months of milk-free diet. After the milk challenge, decreased concentration of CD19+CD23+ was observed in children who acquired tolerance to CMP, in comparison with the test before cow’s milk (CM) challenge (42.2% vs. 29.1%, p = .006). The same group demonstrated lower concentration of TGF-β than patients with persistent allergy (median 37.9 pg/ml vs. 52.8 pg/ml, p = .003, respectively). Moreover, before CM challenge, higher percentage of CD3+CD8+CD28+CD152+ cells (median 2.88% vs. 1.2%, p = .03) and CD3+CD4+CD25+CD62L+ (median 42.3% vs. 13.4%, p = .032) was noted in children who acquired tolerance to CMP, in comparison with subjects who remained allergic to CMP.

Keywords

• cow’s milk allergy
• food tolerance
• lymphocyte subpopulations
• tgf-β