Figure 4

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells' (PBMCs) proliferative response to β-lactoglobulin (BLG) and digested peptides. PBMCs from 10 patients with cow's milk allergy were stimulated by BLG or digested peptides at a concentration of 20 μg/mL for 5 days. Proliferation was measured by [3H]-thymidine incorporation during the last 16 hours of culture. Proliferative response is shown as stimulation index. *, **, and *** indicate significantly higher stimulation index by stimulation with intact BLG, chymotrypsin-digested peptides, and trypsin Vdigested peptides, respectively, than that in healthy controls (p < .05).