Allergy to cow’s milk: mechanism, diagnosis and biotechnological perspectives

Abstract

The frequency of cow’s milk allergy patients has become alarming. Recent epidemiological reports have shown that one of the most worrying reasons for the occurrence of this type of allergy is the presence of beta-lactoglobulin in
milk. Health problems include hypersensitization of the immune system, gastrointestinal, cutaneous, respiratory problems, and, when more severe, anaphylactic events occur. In the present work, we studied the allergenicity to cow’s milk about the mechanisms involved in the sensitization of the immunological system, diagnostics and biotechnological perspectives, through the analysis of 52 articles associated with this problematization. The results of the analysis based on allergenicity to cow’s milk revealed the existence of a diversity of nonspecific symptoms that corroborate the retardation of the diagnosis. Also, it was possible to perceive that most diagnostic protocols are strictly based on the restriction of milk and its derivatives. Despite the difficulties for the correct diagnosis and effective treatment, many studies are still under development using technologies aimed at correcting the hypersensitivity of the immune system caused by milk allergens, editing / interfering gene transcription and, consequently, altering the translation. In this sense, such processes may contribute to the reduction and/or elimination of allergenicity to cow’s milk in the daily life of those with this condition.