FOOD SCIENCE ›› 2013, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (21): 354-358.doi: 10.7506/spkx1002-6630-201321071

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Research Advances in Action Mechanisms of Immune Milk

WANG Yu-fang,PANG Guang-chang*   

  1. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology and Food Science, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China
  • Received:2013-05-17 Revised:2013-10-08 Online:2013-11-15 Published:2013-10-28
  • Contact: PANG Guang-chang E-mail:573476084@qq.com

Abstract:

Immune milk is a kind of processed colostrum products, which can be obtained from cows, sheep, or goats with a
specific vaccination or immunization. Besides the essential nutrients, immune milk mainly contains abundant immunoglobulins,
cytokines, and a variety of natural biologically active components with multiple roles of healthcare, disease prevention
and therapeutic functions. The major functional component of immune milk is antibody IgG. In term of mammals, neonatal
Fc receptor (FcRn) as a vector can facilitate IgG to pass through mucosal epithelial and placental barrier of fetus and infants,
and enter blood circulation. The Fc of IgG can be combined with various Fc receptors on innate immune cells to exert passive
immunity. This immunization delivery between mother and fetus has extremely important significance for fetus and
infant against the infection of various diseases. Whether immune milk can avoid gastrointestinal digestion and degradation
in human to fulfill these roles is still unclear. Immune milk has been proved to have certain therapeutic effect in many experiments
and practices, and a variety of products have already been put in the market. Therefore, the possible action mechanisms
of immune milk are reviewed in this article.

Key words: immune milk, antibody IgG, FcRn, action mechanism

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