Immunization With Bovine Milk Casein Results in Enteric Nervous System Pathology in a Mouse Model of Neuroinflammation

Chunder R, Weier A, An Y, Zoons A, Hintze M, Kuerten S (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Neurogastroenterology and Motility Wiley-Blackwell

Book Volume: 37

Article Number: e70142

Journal Issue: 11

DOI: 10.1111/nmo.70142

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with evidence of autoimmune attack also on the enteric nervous system (ENS). The role of different dietary antigens, including bovine milk proteins, in the exacerbation of MS symptoms has previously been discussed. Methods: In a mouse model of neuroinflammation, we characterized the extent of ENS pathology in animals that were immunized with different bovine milk antigens using electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, and cell culture as key methods. Results: Our data demonstrate that immunization of mice with bovine milk casein resulted in ENS pathology, which is in line with our previous findings where casein-immunized mice also exhibited demyelination in the CNS. Furthermore, development of ENS pathology was most likely due to a combination of cellular and humoral factors, as confirmed by our observation of CD3+ T cell infiltration in the tunica muscularis and binding of serum antibodies from casein-immunized mice to glial cells in the myenteric plexus. Conclusion: The findings presented in this paper reflect that exposure to bovine casein can result in axolysis in the myenteric plexus possibly as a result of molecular mimicry and antibody cross-reactivity between casein and antigen(s) expressed by the ENS.

Authors with CRIS profile

Stefanie Kürten

Additional Organisation(s)

Sonderforschungsbereich 1540/1 - Erforschung der Mechanik des Gehirns (EBM): Verständnis, Engineering und Nutzung mechanischer Eigenschaften und Signale in der Entwicklung, Physiologie und Pathologie des zentralen Nervensystems

Involved external institutions

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Chunder, R., Weier, A., An, Y., Zoons, A., Hintze, M., & Kuerten, S. (2025). Immunization With Bovine Milk Casein Results in Enteric Nervous System Pathology in a Mouse Model of Neuroinflammation. Neurogastroenterology and Motility, 37(11). https://doi.org/10.1111/nmo.70142

MLA:

Chunder, Rittika, et al. "Immunization With Bovine Milk Casein Results in Enteric Nervous System Pathology in a Mouse Model of Neuroinflammation." Neurogastroenterology and Motility 37.11 (2025).

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