Digestibility in the gastrointestinal tract and migration to blood of β'-component (Onk k 5), a major salmon roe IgE-binding protein.

The major allergen of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) roe is the β'-component (Onc k 5, β'-c), which is a yolk protein and a fragment of vitellogenin. When yolk content containing β'-c was orally administered to mice, β'-c passed through the gastrointestinal tract and was excreted in feces without marked degradation. The direct administration of β'-c to ligated jejunal and ileal loops showed that β'-c was absorbed through the small intestine and transferred into the blood. Immunohistochemical staining showed that orally administered β'-c was distributed from the apical side to the basal side of intestinal epithelial cells, suggesting that endocytosis may be involved in the intestinal absorption of β'-c. In conclusion, β'-c is absorbed along a large portion of the small intestine and circulates in the blood stream without significant digestion. The resistance of β'-c to gastrointestinal digestion seems to contribute to its strong allergenicity.