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Genetic link to cow's milk allergy may predict later allergic onset

Researchers have identified two single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with cow’s milk allergy in pediatric patients that may pave the way for development of other allergic disease later in life, according to recent research.

“Current studies indicate that genetic variation of TLR6 and IL2, which were earlier reported to be associated with [non-cow’s milk allergy (non-CMA)] and/or allergy sensitization, contribute to the expression of CMA in young children,” Peter Henneman, PhD, of the department of clinical genetics and DNA-diagnostics laboratory at the Amsterdam Medical Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and colleagues wrote.

Henneman and colleagues evaluated six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 30 children from the Dutch EuroPrevall birth cohort study. They also analyzed 13 candidate mutations within the FLG gene spread over repeats 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10, respectively, according to the abstract.

The researchers found the SNPs rs17616434 (P = .002) and rs2069772 (P = .038) were significantly associated with cow’s milk allergy, with one SNP located near the TLR6 gene and the other located in the IL2 locus. Of the 12 FLG amplicons analyzed, there was no significant enrichment among patients with cow’s milk allergy; however, Henneman and colleagues found more FLG mutations in the group with cow’s milk allergy, according to the abstract.

“Although in our study rare FLG mutations were not significantly enriched in CMA patients, we did observe more FLG mutations in our CMA group. The function of regulatory T-cells and the Th2 responses have been previously reported in relation to allergic diseases as well,” Henneman and colleagues wrote. “These pathways have been associated with several other allergic diseases, which might favor the allergic march hypothesis, since the onset of these different types of allergies seem to manifest at specific ages.” – by Jeff Craven

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.