Abstract
Summary: The normal effect of feeding an antigen, such as ovalbumin (hens' egg albumin), to adult animals is the induction of a state of specific nonreactivity of the lymphoid tissues when the same antigen is presented again (oral tolerance). We have carried out feeding experiments in neonatal mice to investigate subsequent immune responses after physiologic antigen exposure and to examine the role of the neonatal intestine.
We demonstrate for the first time that feeding a weight related dose of ovalbumin within the first week of life results in priming for both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, despite the profound tolerance found in adult animals when treated in the same way. When the time scale of antigen exposure was extended into the prenatal period, the enhancement of the immune response was even more pronounced. These effects are long lasting and effects on cell-mediated immune responses are still demonstrable 14 wk after the initial priming feed. We postulate that after an antigen feed in the neonatal period, immunologic and digestive immaturity lead to a net gain in T help which prevents the induction of systemic hyporesponsiveness (oral tolerance).
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Strobel, S., Ferguson, A. Immune Responses to Fed Protein Antigens in Mice. 3. Systemic Tolerance or Priming Is Related to Age at Which Antigen Is First Encountered. Pediatr Res 18, 588–594 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198407000-00004
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198407000-00004
This article is cited by
-
Oral tolerance is inefficient in neonatal mice due to a physiological vitamin A deficiency
Mucosal Immunology (2016)
-
Oral antigen exposure in newborn piglets circumvents induction of oral tolerance in response to intraperitoneal vaccination in later life
BMC Veterinary Research (2015)
-
Pathogenesis of Food Allergy in the Pediatric Patient
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports (2012)
-
Oral tolerance in neonates: from basics to potential prevention of allergic disease
Mucosal Immunology (2010)
-
Breast milk–mediated transfer of an antigen induces tolerance and protection from allergic asthma
Nature Medicine (2008)