Immunomodulating activity of protein concentrates derived from bovine milk whey in mice

Whey represents a rich source of biologically active molecules that are able to influence a range of physiological functions. In this study, we investigated the ability of 2 different whey protein concentrates (IMUCARE WPC and cheese WPC) to modulate immune function in mice, and we compared the effects of these proteins with a plant-derived protein source (soybean protein). Mice were maintained on 17% wt/wt total-protein-content diets where the sole protein source comprised whey protein, soybean protein, or standard mouse chow pellets (as a control). Ex vivo immune activity was assessed after 4- or 8-week dietary regimens. After 8 weeks of dietary intake, splenic lymphocytes derived from mice fed with IMUCARE WTC showed significantly elevated (P < .05) proliferative responses to a T-cell mitogen (concanavalin A) compared with soy-fed mice; cheese WPC did not affect lymphocyte proliferation significantly. Mice fed with IMUCARE WPC exhibited near-significant increases (P = .082) in numbers of accessory (CD40(+)) blood leukocytes, whereas mice fed with cheese WPC exhibited a decline in numbers of circulating helper T subset lymphocytes (CD4(+)). Mice fed with whey proteins tended to exhibit elevated mean intestinal tract antibody responses to orally administered ovalbumin and cholera toxin antigens, whereas soybean protein did not affect antibody responses. This study confirms that WPCs are able to modulate some aspects of immune function and further demonstrates that different whey preparations may exert differential influences on the immune system. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.