Early Exposure to Respiratory Allergens by Placental Transfer and Breastfeeding

Author(s)

Macchiaverni, Patricia ^[1] ; Ynoue, Leandro H. ^[1] ; Arslanian, Christina ^[1] ; Verhasselt, Valerie ^[2] ; Condino-Neto, Antonio ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Immunol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Nice Sophia Antipolis, U924, INSERM, Valbonne - France

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 10, n. 9 SEP 23 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 5

Abstract

The relationship between allergen exposure and the onset of or protection from allergic diseases remains unclear. Many factors could be related to immunological responses, such as the age when the exposure occurs, type of allergen, timing, dose, and allergen route. In this study, we investigated whether exposure to respiratory allergens could occur in pregnancy or early life. In particular, we assessed whether Der p 1 and Blo t 5, as well as specific antibodies against these allergens, could be detected in 90 paired cord blood and colostrum samples. Der p 1 was detected in 58.6% of colostrum and 29% of cord blood samples, whereas Blot 5 was positive in 41.3% and 9.6% of the samples, respectively. Similar to specific IgA, which could be detected in all samples for both mites, specific IgG was found in a high number of colostrum samples, 93.5% and 94.8% for Dp and Bt, respectively. Although allergens were not detected in all cord blood samples, a high percentage of them (>= 95%) were positive for specific IgM to both mites in cord blood samples, suggesting that neonates can be exposed and sensitized to airborne allergens during pregnancy. Many studies have attempted to correlate allergen exposure or its prevention in early infancy with the onset of or protection from allergic diseases. However, conflicting and inconsistent data do not show a clear correlation with or suggest a way to prevent allergen sensitization. Nevertheless, these unconvincing results could be better understood if the relationship with many aspects of allergen exposure after pregnancy could be clarified. Thus, it is necessary to address basic issues related to allergen exposure, including the development of reproducible, standardized and reliable methods, and to determine how and where the exposure occurs. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/51290-6 - Can breastfeeding help prevent allergies? Role of allergens, TGF-beta and specific IgG and IgA antibodies in colostrum
• Grantee: Patricia Macchiaverni
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral