Allergen-specific immunoglobulin, histamine and T-cell responses induced by soybean glycinin and β-conglycinin in BALB/c mice of oral sensitisation

Glycinin and β-conglycinin are major soybean allergens involved in food hypersensitivity. However, the mechanism of immune responses induced by glycinin and β-conglycinin has not been fully understood. Balb/c mice were oral sensitised with different doses (0.1, 1.0 and 10 mg/day) of soybean glycinin and β-conglycinin for five weeks. Allergen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig), serum histamine and T-cell responses were tested to assess the allergenic activity of glycinin and β-conglycinin. Mice sensitised with 0.1 or 1.0 mg/day allergens induced high levels of specific IgE, IgG1 and serum histamine compared with mice treated with saline. Furthermore, specific T-cell proliferation and significant up-regulation of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and interferon (IFN)-γ were observed in splenocytes from mice gavaged with 0.1 or 1.0 mg/day soybean proteins. Low doses of glycinin or β-conglycinin can induce allergic reactions in BALB/c mice, which might be associated with increased IgE and cytokine production.