Figure 3. Impact of heating on OVA-induced allergic response. Experimental design (a).

Mice were sensitized twice intraperitoneally (i.p.) with OVA/Al(OH)₃, heated OVA (h-OVA)/Al(OH)₃ or PBS/Al(OH)₃ alone and subsequently challenged with ten doses of OVA, h-OVA or PBS by intragastric tubing (i.g.). Blood samples were taken at indicated time points for antibody analysis. At the end of the experiment, spleens and mesenteric lymph nodes were taken for FACS and cytokine assays, small intestine for histology and enterocyte brush border for enzyme activity analysis. Occurrence of allergic diarrhea (b). Occurrence of allergic diarrhea in OVA (solid line) or h-OVA (dotted line) challenged mice, data pooled from three independent experiments. PBS controls are shown as dashed line. The kinetics of specific Abs formation (c). Levels of specific antibodies in sera from mice exposed to OVA (solid line), h-OVA (dotted line) or PBS (dashed line) were detected by ELISA (IgA, IgG1and IgG2a) or by β-hexosaminidase release assay (IgE). Data are represented as mean ± SEM (n = 10 mice/group), representative data from one out of three independent experiments. *P≤0.05, **P≤0.01, ***P≤0.001.