Immune-modulating properties of horse milk administered to mice sensitized to cow milk.

This research explores the effect of horse milk on the immune response and gut health in mice previously sensitized to cow milk proteins. The study suggests that horse milk may dampen the allergic response and promote beneficial changes in gut microbiota.

Research Objective

• The goal of this investigation was to evaluate the adaptive immune changes, expression of innate immune response biomarkers, and alterations in gut microbiota following the administration of horse milk in a mouse model. These mice had been previously sensitized to cow milk proteins, particularly beta-lactoglobulin and alpha-casein, using an aluminum salt as an adjuvant.

Methods Used

• The levels of allergy-associated antibody IgE in the serum were determined.
• The researchers measured the expression of cytokines and chemokines associated with immune response, particularly MCP-1, IL-4, and TNF-alpha, in samples taken from the duodenum.
• The team identified and quantified immune cell populations in the peripheral blood using flow cytometry.
• Alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota were evaluated using real-time PCR.

Key Findings

• They discovered that horse milk reduced the levels of IgE in the serum of mice that had been sensitized, which indicates it might have an anti-allergic effect.
• The population of regulatory T cells, which are involved in controlling the immune response, increased in the groups treated with horse milk.
• Horse milk reduced the mRNA levels of IL-4, a cytokine and key regulator in humoral and allergic response, and increased the transcripts of TLR-4, a receptor involved in innate immune response, in all treatment groups. However, it did not significantly alter the levels of MCP-1, TNF-alpha, or TLR-2.
• Folowing treatment with horse milk, an increase in the number of Bifidobacterium species was observed in the gut. These are beneficial bacteria that play a crucial role in gut health and immune modulation. This suggests that horse milk not only modulates the immune response but could also have a beneficial effect on gut health.

Conclusions and Further Research

• The study demonstrated potential immunomodulatory effects of horse milk in mice sensitized to cow milk proteins.
• The researchers suggest that future studies should focus on different ways of processing horse milk, such as fermentation techniques or methodologies to destroy the most allergenic components, before exploring its potential clinical utility in humans.