Detection of major food allergens in amniotic fluid: initial allergenic encounter during pregnancy

Pastor Vargas, Carlos; Aroa S. Maroto; Araceli Díaz‐Perales; Villalba Díaz, María Teresa; Vanesa Esteban; Marta Ruiz‐Ramos; Marta Rodriguez de Alba; Vivanco Martínez, Fernando; Javier Cuesta‐Herranz

Detection of major food allergens in amniotic fluid: initial allergenic encounter during pregnancy

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Official URL

https://doi.org/10.1111/pai.12608

Publication date

2016

Authors

Pastor Vargas, Carlos

Aroa S. Maroto

Araceli Díaz‐Perales

Villalba Díaz, María Teresa

Vanesa Esteban

Marta Ruiz‐Ramos

Marta Rodriguez de Alba

Vivanco Martínez, Fernando

Javier Cuesta‐Herranz

Publisher

Wiley

Citations

Exportar

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/106950

Citation

Pastor-Vargas C, Maroto AS, Díaz-Perales A, Villalba M, Esteban V, Ruiz-Ramos M, de Alba MR, Vivanco F, Cuesta-Herranz J. Detection of major food allergens in amniotic fluid: initial allergenic encounter during pregnancy. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2016 Nov;27(7):716-720. doi: 10.1111/pai.12608. Epub 2016 Jul 29. PMID: 27341427.

Abstract

Background: Ingestion of food allergens present in maternal milk during breastfeeding has been hypothesized as a gateway to sensitization to food; however, this process could develop during pregnancy, as the maternal-fetal interface develops a Th2- and Treg-mediated environment to protect the fetus. We hypothesized that in these surroundings, unborn children are exposed to food allergens contained in the mother's diet, possibly giving rise to first sensitization. Methods: The presence of allergens in utero was studied by analyzing amniotic fluid (AF) samples in two different stages of pregnancy: at 15-20 weeks and after delivery at term. An antibody microarray was developed to test for the most common food allergens. The array detects the presence of ten allergens from milk, fruit, egg, fish, nuts, and wheat. Results: AF from 20 pregnant women was collected: eight after delivery at term and 12 from women who underwent diagnostic amniocentesis between weeks 15 and 20 of gestation. The presence of allergens was detected in all samples. Samples from amniocentesis had a higher allergen concentration than samples after delivery at term. Conclusions: We demonstrated the presence of intact major food allergens in AF samples. This early contact could explain subsequent sensitization to foods never eaten before.