Evaluation of Immunoreactivity of Pea (Pisum sativum) Albumins in BALB/c and C57BL/6 Mice

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2020-04, Vol.68 (13), p.3891-3902
• Main Authors: Chudzik-Kozłowska, Justyna, Wasilewska, Ewa, Złotkowska, Dagmara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Albumins - immunology; Animals; Antibodies - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Female; Food Hypersensitivity - immunology; Humans; Lymphocyte Activation; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Pisum sativum - immunology; Plant Proteins - immunology; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th2 Cells - immunology
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c00297

Green pea (Pisum sativum) is a component of European cuisine; however, an estimated 0.8% of Europeans suffer from allergies to pea proteins. We examined the immunoreactive potential of pea albumins (PA) in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Mice were orally gavaged with PA or glycated pea albumins (G-PA) for 10 consecutive days, in combination with an adjuvant. Both PA and G-PA increased PA-specific serum antibody titers to about 212 for anti-PA IgG, ∼27 for anti-PA IgA, and ∼27.8 for anti-PA IgA in fecal extracts (p < 0.001). On day 42 postexposure, the antibodies titers decreased and were greater in BALB/c compared to C57BL/6 mice (p < 0.05). Distribution of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in lymphoid tissues presented strain-specific differences. PA was found to induce lymphocyte proliferation; however, G-PA did not. Both PA and G-PA changed CD4+ and CD8+ T cells percentages in some lymphoid tissues; however, this did not impact cytokines production by splenocyte cultures evidenced by the stimulation of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells. The observed immunomodulatory properties of PA and G-PA and lack of a sign of allergic reaction render them suitable for supplements in personalized diets, but further research is needed to precisely understand this activity.