Suppression of immune responses to β‐lactoglobulin in mice by the oral administration of peptides representing dominant T cell epitopes

BACKGROUND: The significance of oral tolerance in the treatment of adverse immune reactions such as allergic and autoimmune diseases has been noted. In the present study, peptides that could effectively induce oral tolerance to bovine β‐lactoglobulin (BLG), a milk allergen, were investigated in a murine model. RESULTS: The oral administration of peptides corresponding to the T cell epitope regions of BLG, i.e. p42–56, p62–76 and p139–154, apparently down‐regulated T cell proliferation to BLG. The in vitro cytokine production by the lymph node cells from the peptide‐fed mice cultured in the presence of the antigen was also analysed. It was found that p62–76 and p139–154 feeding suppressed the production of both Th1 and Th2 types. Interestingly, p139–154 feeding suppressed both T cell and antibody responses to BLG. Additionally, p139–154 feeding diminished BLG‐specific IgE and IgG1 antibody responses. CONCLUSION: The unique tolerogen peptide p139–154 that could suppress both T and B cell responses to BLG in a murine model was identified. These findings can be useful for the selection of an optimum tolerogenic peptide to prevent and treat milk and other food allergies. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry