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Review
. 2018 Jun 22:5:52.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2018.00052. eCollection 2018.

Effects of Bovine Immunoglobulins on Immune Function, Allergy, and Infection

Laurien H Ulfman  1 , Jeanette H W Leusen  2 , Huub F J Savelkoul  3   4 , John O Warner  5 , R J Joost van Neerven  1   3
Affiliations
Review

Effects of Bovine Immunoglobulins on Immune Function, Allergy, and Infection

Laurien H Ulfman et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

This review aims to provide an in depth overview of the current knowledge of the effects of bovine immunoglobulins on the human immune system. The stability and functional effects of orally ingested bovine immunoglobulins in milk products are described and potential mechanisms of action are discussed. Orally ingested bovine IgG (bovine IgG) can be recovered from feces, ranging from very low levels up to 50% of the ingested IgG that has passed through the gastrointestinal tract. In infants the recovered levels are higher than in adults most likely due to differences in stomach and intestinal conditions such as pH. This indicates that bovine IgG can be functionally active throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Indeed, a large number of studies in infants and adults have shown that bovine IgG (or colostrum as a rich source thereof) can prevent gastrointestinal tract infections, upper respiratory tract infections, and LPS-induced inflammation. These studies vary considerably in target group, design, source of bovine IgG, dosage, and endpoints measured making it hard to draw general conclusions on effectiveness of bovine immunoglobulin rich preparations. Typical sources of bovine IgG used in human studies are serum-derived IgG, colostrum, colostrum-derived IgG, or milk-derived immunoglobulins. In addition, many studies have used IgG from vaccinated cows, but studies using IgG from nonimmunized animals have also been reported to be effective. Mechanistically, bovine IgG binds to many human pathogens and allergens, can neutralize experimental infection of human cells, and limits gastrointestinal inflammation. Furthermore, bovine IgG binds to human Fc receptors which, enhances phagocytosis, killing of bacteria and antigen presentation and bovine IgG supports gastrointestinal barrier function in in vitro models. These mechanisms are becoming more and more established and explain why bovine IgG can have immunological effects in vivo. The inclusion of oral bovine immunoglobulins in specialized dairy products and infant nutrition may therefore be a promising approach to support immune function in vulnerable groups such as infants, children, elderly and immunocompromised patients.

Keywords: allergy; bovine immunoglobulins; colostrum; immune; infection; milk.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proposed effects of bovine IgG at various locations in the GI tract. (A) After ingestion bovine IgG can encounter swallowed respiratory pathogens and inhaled allergens. This can lead to partial immune exclusion (especially when milk is regurgitated and enters the nasopharynx) and immune modulation in the tonsils that comprise Waldeyer's ring. (B) In the small intestine IgG can also exclude pathogens by preventing adhesion to epithelial surfaces, but may also promote the uptake of immune complexes of IgG with pathogens via Fc receptors, resulting in regulatory immune responses and induction of IgA. (C) In the colon, IgG prevents leakage of LPS, can modify microbiota composition and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) production, and can prevent adhesion of pathogens.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Immunological mechanisms of bovine immunoglobulins. Bovine immunoglobulins can modify innate as well as adaptive immunity. By binding directly to pathogens, bovine immunoglobulins can bind to FcγR bearing innate immune cells, leading to phagocytosis and killing. In some cases, as for RSV, bovine IgG may also fully neutralize human pathogens as demonstrated for RSV in vitro (38). Other mechanisms of pathogen elimination may be complement mediated pore formation and killing, and ADCC. On the other hand, as bovine IgG-pathogen immune complexes bind to FcγR, receptor mediated uptake and antigen processing is enhanced, resulting in increased T, and ultimately B-cell responses to the pathogens.
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