Abstract

Background: The allergy- and asthma-protective farm effect is mediated by numerous factors. Especially dust from cattle stables and raw cow’s milk show beneficial properties, suggesting a bovine protein to be involved. As a major milk protein and member of the lipocalin family, β-lactoglobulin (BLG) binds small, hydrophobic ligands and thereby modulates the immune response. Empty BLG promotes allergy development, whereas BLG in association with ligands shows allergy-preventive as well as allergy-reducing effects in vivo and in vitro. Results: BLG has been identified as a major protein in stable dust (therein bound to zinc) as well as in the air around cattle stables. This association with zinc favors an allergy-protective immune profile. Conclusion: Its immune-modulating, allergy-protective characteristics together with its presence in raw cow’s milk as well as in stable dust and ambient air render BLG an essential contributor to the farm effect.

Author Details

Authors

• Hanna Mayerhofer¹
• Katharina Zednik¹
• Isabella Pali-Schöll¹,²

Departments

• ¹ Interuniversity Messerli Research Institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna and Medical University Vienna, and
• ² Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Address

Isabella Pali-Schöll, PhD, Interuniversity Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna and Medical University Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Email: [email protected]

Citation