Role of soybean β-conglycinin subunits as potential dietary allergens in piglets

• Published in: The veterinary journal (1997) 2014-03, Vol.199 (3), p.434-438
• Main Authors: Zheng, Shugui, Qin, Guixin, Tian, He, Sun, Zewei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergens - administration & dosage; Allergens - immunology; Animal Feed - analysis; Animals; Antigens, Plant - administration & dosage; Antigens, Plant - immunology; Diet - veterinary; Dietary Supplements - analysis; ELISA; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - veterinary; Globulins - administration & dosage; Globulins - immunology; Glycine max - chemistry; Histamine Release; Histamine release testing; Immunoblot analysis; Immunoblotting - veterinary; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Piglets; Seed Storage Proteins - administration & dosage; Seed Storage Proteins - immunology; Skin prick testing; Skin Tests - veterinary; Soybean Proteins - administration & dosage; Soybean Proteins - immunology; Swine - immunology; β-Conglycinin: allergens
• ISSN: 1090-0233; 1532-2971
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.11.020

β-Conglycinin, a major seed-storage protein in soybeans, is one of the primary antigenic proteins responsible for soybean-meal hypersensitivity in weaned piglets. The protein is a heterotrimer composed of subunits α, α′ and β. It is currently unknown which of the β-conglycinin subunits are allergenic for piglets. The aim of this study was to identify potential allergenic subunits of β-conglycinin for soybean sensitive piglets and to characterise these subunits by immunoglobulin (Ig) G and E immunoblotting, ELISA, ‘skin prick’ and whole blood histamine-release testing. The IgG and IgE binding capabilities of the purified α, α′ and β subunits of β-conglycinin were determined by immunoblot analysis and ELISA with sera from β-conglycinin sensitised piglets. Skin prick testing and whole blood histamine release testing were also performed to detect the activated effector cell response to specific allergens. Specific IgG and E antibodies were identified that recognised all three subunits of β-conglycinin in the sera of β-conglycinin sensitised piglets. All three subunits of β-conglycinin elicited positive skin test and specific histamine release responses from the whole blood of β-conglycinin sensitised piglets. These results suggest that all three β-conglycinin subunits are potential allergens for piglets.