1 3 Eur Food Res Technol DOI 10.1007/s00217-015-2471-5 ORIGINAL PAPER Supplementation with β-carotene or vitamin E protects against increase in anaphylactic response in β-lactoglobulin-sensitized Balb/c mice: ex vivo study Hadria Grar 1 · Wafaa Dib 1 · Kamel Eddine El Mecherfi 1 · Hanane Negaoui 1 · Hanane Gourine 1 · Samira Bekkaddour Benattia 1 · Leila Amier 1 · Hanane Kaddouri 1 · Omar Kheroua 1 · Djamel Saidi 1 Received: 2 March 2015 / Revised: 29 April 2015 / Accepted: 1 May 2015 © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015 ion transport, but it should be noted that only Vit E-sup- plemented mice showed a decreased tissue conductance, indicating protection from β-Lg-induced epithelial perme- ability increase. Analysis of histological sections revealed that BC or Vit E treatment clearly reduced the microscopic lesions caused by β-Lg sensitization. Keywords β-Lactoglobulin · Anaphylactic response · β-Carotene · Vitamin E · Ussing chamber Introduction One of the main roles of the intestinal epithelium is to act as a barrier to limit the influx into the body of antigens and other potentially noxious material in the gut lumen [1]. Under normal conditions, delivery of luminal antigens to the gut mucosal immune system results in oral tolerance [2]. However, in food allergy, antigen transported into the mucosa results in a local hypersensitivity reaction. Local hypersensitivity reactions at mucosal surfaces play an important role in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases. Early clinical studies in children with cow’s milk allergy (CMA) demonstrated intestinal permeability rise after, but not before, allergen challenge [3–5]. Experimental models indicate that the breach of epithelial barrier may be a con- sequence of Th2 switching or may possibly reflect exag- gerated responses and viscous cycles caused by mast cell activation [6]. Effect of diet on various aspects of immune function has become increasingly apparent [7]. Recently, protec- tive effects of carotenoids against serious disorders have stimulated intensive research into the role of carotenoids as antioxidants and as regulators of the immune response. It has been reported that consumption of β-carotene (BC) Abstract Balb/c mice fed 0 mg, 20 mg of β-carotene (BC) or 50 mg of vitamin E (Vit E) per Kg of diet for 7 weeks were immunized intraperitoneally with β-Lactoglobulin (β-Lg). Specific IgG and IgE anti β-Lg were determined in the mouse sera by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the jejunum was used for assessment of local anaphylactic responses ex vivo in Ussing chambers. Short-circuit current (Isc), a measure of active ion transport, and epithelial conductance (G), a measure of passive ion permeability, were measured for each tissue. Specimens were also processed for examina- tion by histological analysis. Compared with sensitized mice (unsupplemented mice), those fed BC or Vit E had lower β-Lg-specific IgG (p < 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respec- tively) and IgE levels (p < 0.02 and p < 0.01, respectively). A secretory response reflecting local intestinal anaphy- laxis was evident in sensitized mice, as indicated by an increase in Isc (p < 0.009). Sensitized mice demonstrated also an enhanced epithelial permeability as measured by conductance (p < 0.03). BC supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in secretory response (p < 0.02) with no effect on the epithelial permeability. Interestingly, the secretory response and epithelial permeability were signifi- cantly reduced by supplementation with Vit E (p < 0.02 and p < 0.009, respectively). These findings provide evidence for the first time that both BC and Vit E regulate epithelial * Hadria Grar ghadria@yahoo.fr Djamel Saidi djamsaidi@gmail.com 1 Laboratory of Physiology of the Nutrition and Food Safety, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, 31000 Oran, Algeria