Significance of CD10 for Mucosal Immunomodulation by ß-Casomorphin-7 in Exacerbation of Ulcerative Colitis.

ß-Casomorphin-7 (BCM), a breakdown product of milk ß-casein, exhibits opioid activity. Opioids are known to affect the immune system, but the effects of BCM on ulcerative colitis (UC) are not clear. We examined the effects of BCM on mucosal immunity using a mouse dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis model and an in vitro CD8+ T cell activation model. Human UC patients were examined to reveal the relationship between CD10 and mucosal immunity. Combined treatment of the colitis model with thiorphan (TOP) inhibited BCM degradation by suppressing CD10 in the intestinal mucosa, activating mouse mucosal CD8, and suppressing CD4 and Treg. In the CD8+ T cell in vitro activation assay using mouse splenocytes, BCM inhibited the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) of CD8+ T cells and induced the glycolytic pathway, promoting their activation. Conversely, in a culture system, BCM suppressed OXPHOS and decreased defensin α production in IEC6 mouse intestinal epithelial cells. In the mouse model, BCM reduced defensin α and butyrate levels in the colonic mucosa. During the active phase of human ulcerative colitis, the downward regulation of ileal CD10 expression by CpG methylation of the gene promoter was observed, resulting in increased CD8 activation and decreased defensin α and butyrate levels. BCM is a potential aggravating factor for UC and should be considered in the design of dietary therapy. In addition, decreased CD10 expression may serve as an indicator of UC activity and recurrence, but further clinical studies are needed.

Beyond the gut: Investigating the mechanism of formation of ß-casomorphins in human blood.

To evaluate the potential differences in the propensity of ß-casein A1 (ß-CNA1) and A2 (ß-CNA2) from bovine milk to release health-relevant ß-casomorphins (BCMs), food-derived peptides were monitored over time in the blood of eight human volunteers who consumed milk containing both protein variants. Liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution tandem mass spectrometry revealed interindividual variability of milk peptidomic profiles in human blood. BCMs were not detected, whereas BCM precursors originating from both ß-CNA1 and ß-CNA2 were ascertained, with ß-CNA2-derived peptides showing a slightly greater susceptibility to proteolysis. Ten synthetic peptides mimicking circulating BCM precursors from ß-CNA1 and ß-CNA2, which were incubated ex vivo with the blood of two volunteers, showed comparable potential to generate BCMs. The formation of BCMs seemed to depend mainly on the size of the BCM precursors and less on the presence of His67 or Pro67. These findings challenge the belief that BCMs are released exclusively from ß-CNA1 and support the nutritional safety of conventional milk, informing health policies regarding milk consumption.

BCM-7: Opioid-like Peptide with Potential Role in Disease Mechanisms.

Bovine milk is an essential supplement due to its rich energy- and nutrient-rich qualities. Caseins constitute the vast majority of the proteins in milk. Among these, ß-casein comprises around 37% of all caseins, and it is an important type of casein with several different variants. The A1 and A2 variants of ß-casein are the most researched genotypes due to the changes in their composition. It is accepted that the A2 variant is ancestral, while a point mutation in the 67th amino acid created the A1 variant. The digestion derived of both A1 and A2 milk is BCM-7. Digestion of A2 milk in the human intestine also forms BCM-9 peptide molecule. The opioid-like characteristics of BCM-7 are highlighted for their potential triggering effect on several diseases. Most research has been focused on gastrointestinal-related diseases; however other metabolic and nervous system-based diseases are also potentially triggered. By manipulating the mechanisms of these diseases, BCM-7 can induce certain situations, such as conformational changes, reduction in protein activity, and the creation of undesired activity in the biological system. Furthermore, the genotype of casein can also play a role in bone health, such as altering fracture rates, and calcium contents can change the characteristics of dietary products. The context between opioid molecules and BCM-7 points to a potential triggering mechanism for the central nervous system and other metabolic diseases discussed.

A2 milk consumption and its health benefits: an update.

Milk is a widely consumed nutrient-rich food containing protein variants such as casein A2 and A1. A1 differs from A2 in an amino acid at position 67 (Pro67 to His67). The breakdown of ß-casein yields ß-casomorphins (BCM), among which BCM-7 is extensively studied for its effects on the human body. Animal studies have shown that A1 ß-casein milk increases digestive transit time and enhances myeloperoxidase activity. Individuals with lactose intolerance prefer A2 milk to conventional A1 milk, as BCM-7 in A1 milk can lead to inflammation and discomfort in sensitive individuals. A2 milk, which contains A2 ß-casein, is believed to be more easily digestible than A1 ß-casein. Its popularity has grown owing to reports linking A1 casein to diseases such as type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and autism. A2 milk has gained popularity as an alternative to A1 milk, primarily because of its potential benefits for individuals with certain diseases. This review aims to provide an updated understanding of A2 milk consumption and its health benefits. This review aims to provide an updated understanding of A2 milk consumption and its health benefits.

Comparative evaluation of A1A2 and A2A2 cow milk-containing diets on biochemical and histological parameters of Wistar rats.

This Research Communication aims to compare the effect of A1A2 and A2A2 cow milk diets on the biochemical and histological parameters of rats. The rats were divided into four groups and fed with a normal diet, A2 milk powder, A1A2 or A2A2 cow milk diets for 90 d. Blood glucose, kidney function, liver function and lipid profile were examined during the experimental period. The study showed an increase in the body weight of the A1A2 group whereas a slight decrease in the A2A2 group, and blood glucose levels increased from d 0 to day 90 in all experimental groups. However, none of these changes were found to be statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). Moreover, no significant changes were recorded in other parameters (serum glutamic pyruvic transferase and serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase for liver function, bilirubin direct, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine and uric acid). The histology of the liver, kidney and pancreas also showed no changes in all groups. Overall, this study revealed no significant difference in the nutritional values of A1A2 and A2A2 milk types and hence equally beneficial for health. Although the present study showed no significant difference in the effect of both milk types in 90 d, further studies might be conducted to evaluate their longer term effects.

Worldwide research on the health effects of bovine milk containing A1 and A2 ß-casein: Unraveling the current scenario and future trends through bibliometrics and text mining.

The possible adverse effect of consuming bovine milk with A1 ß-casein (but not with A2 ß-casein) on health aspects due to the release of ß-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) is currently under debate. The aim of this study was to perform a bibliometric analysis of studies extracted from Scopus to explore the relationship between BCM-7, A1 or A2 bovine milk with different aspects of health. Over time, several research groups were formed that are no longer active and although some authors have returned to the field of study, they have focused their efforts mainly on conducting reviews that show the same imprecise conclusions due to the few original articles. Research is concentrated in Europe and Asia, where New Zealand, China and Germany are the countries with the most publications, records and citations on the subject, respectively. On the other hand, no country in Africa or South America has scientific production, which opens the possibility of building collaborations between countries and exploring areas that lack scientific studies. Based on conflicting information from primarily in vitro and animal studies, and limited clinical trials with poor designs, A1 milk presents pro-inflammatory and oxidative activity, but the evidence is insufficient to associate its consumption with negative health effects. However, A2 milk may be better tolerated by the digestive system of some individuals, suggesting its possible modulating role in the intestinal microbiota. Stronger scientific evidence is needed to reach a consensus on whether the presence of ß-casein A1 can significantly negatively affect health. The information shown will allow a better understanding of the subject and consumers will be able to make their own decisions regarding A1 or A2 milk.

Impact of in vitro static digestion method on the release of ß-casomorphin-7 from bovine milk and cheeses with A1 or A2 ß-casein phenotypes.

Beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM7) represents the fragment Val60-Ile66 of bovine ß-casein (ß-CN), and there is evidence that it is more easily released during gastrointestinal digestion (GID) of A1 ß-CN variant, in comparison to the A2 variant. This study aimed at investigating the effect of type of enzymes and the protease/protein (P/S) ratio on BCM7 release during the intestinal step of in vitro static GID of bovine milk and cheeses with A1 or A2 ß-CN phenotypes. BCM7 occurred in digests of both A1 and A2 samples, being the release more marked for A1 counterparts. Nonetheless, the BCM7 release depended on both the type of GID enzymes and the P/S ratio. These findings highlight the importance of GID conditions which may affect the outcomes for possible differences between A1 and A2 milk based on BCM7 release during in vitro GID.

Does a Little Difference Make a Big Difference? Bovine ß-Casein A1 and A2 Variants and Human Health-An Update.

For over 20 years, bovine beta-casein has been a subject of increasing scientific interest because its genetic A1 variant during gastrointestinal digestion releases opioid-like peptide ß-casomorphin-7 (ß-CM-7). Since ß-CM-7 is involved in the dysregulation of many physiological processes, there is a growing discussion of whether the consumption of the ß-casein A1 variant has an influence on human health. In the last decade, the number of papers dealing with this problem has substantially increased. The newest clinical studies on humans showed a negative effect of variant A1 on serum glutathione level, digestive well-being, cognitive performance score in children, and mood score in women. Scientific reports in this field can affect the policies of dairy cattle breeders and the milk industry, leading to the elimination of allele A1 in dairy cattle populations and promoting milk products based on milk from cows with the A2A2 genotype. More scientific proof, especially in well-designed clinical studies, is necessary to determine whether a little difference in the ß-casein amino acid sequence negatively affects the health of milk consumers.

Enhancement of Anti-Tumoral Immunity by ß-Casomorphin-7 Inhibits Cancer Development and Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer.

ß-Casomorphin-7 (BCM) is a degradation product of ß-casein, a milk component, and has been suggested to affect the immune system. However, its effect on mucosal immunity, especially anti-tumor immunity, in cancer-bearing individuals is not clear. We investigated the effects of BCM on lymphocytes using an in vitro system comprising mouse splenocytes, a mouse colorectal carcinogenesis model, and a mouse orthotopic colorectal cancer model. Treatment of mouse splenocytes with BCM in vitro reduced numbers of cluster of differentiation (CD) 20+ B cells, CD4+ T cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs), and increased CD8+ T cells. Administration of BCM and the CD10 inhibitor thiorphan (TOP) to mice resulted in similar alterations in the lymphocyte subsets in the spleen and intestinal mucosa. BCM was degraded in a concentration- and time-dependent manner by the neutral endopeptidase CD10, and the formed BCM degradation product did not affect the lymphocyte counts. Furthermore, degradation was completely suppressed by TOP. In the azoxymethane mouse colorectal carcinogenesis model, the incidence of aberrant crypt foci, adenoma, and adenocarcinoma was reduced by co-treatment with BCM and TOP. Furthermore, when CT26 mouse colon cancer cells were inoculated into the cecum of syngeneic BALB/c mice and concurrently treated with BCM and TOP, infiltration of CD8+ T cells was promoted, and tumor growth and liver metastasis were suppressed. These results suggest that by suppressing the BCM degradation system, the anti-tumor effect of BCM is enhanced and it can suppress the development and progression of colorectal cancer.

Beneficial Effects of Milk Having A2 ß-Casein Protein: Myth or Reality?

Diet has been shown to play an important role in maintaining normal homeostasis in the human body. Milk and milk products are a major component of the Western diet, but their consumption may predispose sensitive individuals to adverse health outcomes. Current literature about milk products recognizes various bioactive components including lactate, whey protein, and ß-casein protein. Specifically, cow milk has 2 major subvariants of its ß-casein protein, A1 and A2, due to a single nucleotide difference that changes the codon at position 67. Whereas the A2 polymorphism is unlikely to undergo enzymatic cleavage during digestion, the A1 polymorphism is more likely to undergo enzymatic cleavage resulting in the product peptide ß-casomorphin-7, a known µ-opioid receptor agonist. The objective of this article is to review the current understanding of the 2 major ß-casein subvariants and their effects on various organ systems that may have an impact on the health of an individual. Synthesis of the current existing literature on this topic is relevant given the increased association of milk consumption with adverse effects in susceptible individuals resulting in a rising interest in consuming milk alternatives. We discuss the influence of the ß-casein protein on the gastrointestinal system, endocrine system, nervous system, and cardiovascular system as well as its role in antioxidants and methylation. A1 milk consumption has been associated with enhanced inflammatory markers. It has also been reported to have an opioid-like response that can lead to manifestations of clinical symptoms of neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorder. On the other hand, A2 milk consumption has been associated with beneficial effects and is easier to digest in sensitive individuals. Further research is warranted to investigate the short- and long-term effects of consumption of A1 ß-casein in comparison with milk with A2 ß-casein proteins.

ß-Casomorphin: A complete health perspective.

ß-Casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) is a heptapeptide dietary molecule derived from the digestion of the ß-casein of dairy and dairy products. In this review, we have covered the extensive details about BCM and its derived peptides out of the gastrointestinal and enzymatic digestion of milk and milk products, its structure and properties, and its immunological aspects related to human health among infants and adults of both genders. We have left judgment about BCM's pros and cons to the reader by describing the details in a cyclopedic perspective. In addition, a section on the possible ways to detect BCMs from their sources using proteomics, genome-based techniques, such as PCR and aptamers, and other analytical techniques equip the reader to get an idea about the details of the diagnostics available and possible applications in future. Overall, this review will provide information to the end-users of milk and milk products to enable them to make their own decisions about BCMs.

Architecting of a biodevice based on a screen-printed carbon electrode modified with the NiONP nanolayer and aptamer in BCM-7 detection.

In this study, an ultrasensitive and robust biodevice implemented on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) surface is introduced. The ß-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) peptide as an early warning sign of autism disorder is distinguished in this system. The SPCE surface was directly electrodeposited with a nanolayer of the nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiONP). In next step, an Apt sequence as a capture of the BCM-7 was strongly attached on this surface. The embedded sensing interface offered some admirable characterizes to detect the BCM-7. The obtained DPV signals were reversely proportional to the concentrations of the BCM-7 through a stable binding reaction in two working linear ranges from 0.5 × 10-9-1.5 µmol l-. Also, an unrivaled limit of detection (LOD) value of 166.6 aM was achieved that is so superior by other reported methods in the BCM-7 sensing. This hand-held biodevice was satisfactorily tested for the BCM-7 detection in human urine and blood sample with an average recovery rate of ∼101.87 %. More importantly, this strategy is free from labeling steps, complex sample processing and interference from common biomolecules in blood or urine. Due to the inherent advantages of the SPCE and the NiONP, utilizing this facile sensing interface may be an ideal choice in constructing of the ultrasensitive biodevice with low cost for distinguishing of the autism disorder.

Degradation of ß-casomorphin-7 through in vitro gastrointestinal and jejunal brush border membrane digestion.

This work aimed to study the opioid peptide ß-casomorphin-7 (BCM7) degradation or stability during digestion using human gastrointestinal (GI) juices and porcine jejunal brush border membrane (BBM) peptidases. Synthetic BCM7 was subjected to in vitro digestion by GI fluids obtained from human volunteers for 180 min, and to downstream degradation with porcine BBM vesicles. The BCM7 was sampled at 4 time points over 24 h after BBM addition. The digests were profiled by HPLC-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI/MS) to monitor BCM7 during GI digestion, and intact BCM7 through BBM digestion was quantified by reverse-phase (RP)-HPLC. We found that BCM7 was partly digested with human GI enzymes, as 3 proteolytic fragments in addition to f(60-66) YPFPGPI were detected: f(62-66) FPGPI, f(60-65) YPFPGP and f(61-66) PFPGPI. The RP-HPLC analysis revealed that 42% of the initial peptide was degraded after only 2 h of BBM digestion, and as much as 79% was degraded after 4-h digestion with supplementation of BBM. In conclusion, this study showed that most of BCM7 was degraded during GI and BBM digestion, although a small amount (5%) was still detected after 24-h digestion. It remains to be studied whether the small amount of intact BCM7 detected after in vitro digestion is transported via active transceptors in the human intestinal epithelial cells and enters blood circulation.

Role of Milk-Derived Opioid Peptides and Proline Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Opioid peptides released during digestion of dietary proteins such as casein, were suggested to contribute to autism development, leading to the announcement of opioid excess hypothesis of autism. This paper examines role of enzyme proline dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPPIV; EC 3.4.14.5) and it is exogenous substrate, ß-casomorphin-7 (BCM7) in autism etiology. Our study included measurements of DPPIV and BCM7 concentrations in serum and urine, which were analyzed with ELISA assays and activity of DPPIV was measured by colorimetric test. The effect of opioid peptides from hydrolysed bovine milk on DPPIV gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in autistic and healthy children was determined using the Real-Time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) method. Our research included 51 healthy children and 86 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD, ICDF84). We determined that the concentration of BCM7 in serum was significantly, 1.6-fold, higher in the ASD group than in controls (p < 0.0001). Concentration of DPPIV was found to also be significantly higher in serum from ASD children compared to the control group (p < 0.01), while we did not notice significant difference in enzymatic activity of serum DPPIV between the two study groups. We confirmed correlation according to the gender between analyzed parameters. The inspiration for this study emanated from clinical experience of the daily diet role in relieving the symptoms of autism. Despite this, we have concluded that milk-derived opioid peptides and DPPIV are potentially factors in determining the pathogenesis of autism; conducted studies are still limited and require further research.

The X-prolyl dipeptidyl-peptidase PepX of Streptococcus thermophilus initially described as intracellular is also responsible for peptidase extracellular activity.

This study addresses the hypothesis that the extracellular cell-associated X-prolyl dipeptidyl-peptidase activity initially described in Streptococcus thermophilus could be attributable to the intracellular X-prolyl dipeptidyl-peptidase PepX. For this purpose, a PepX-negative mutant of S. thermophilus LMD-9 was constructed by interrupting the pepX gene and named LMD-9-ΔpepX. When cultivated, the S. thermophilus LMD-9 wild type strain grew more rapidly than its ΔpepX mutant counterpart. Thus, the growth rate of the LMD-9-ΔpepX strain was reduced by a factor of 1.5 and 1.6 in milk and LM17 medium (M17 medium supplemented with 2% lactose), respectively. The negative effect of the PepX inactivation on the hydrolysis of ß-casomorphin-7 was also observed. Indeed, when incubated with this peptide, the LMD-9-ΔpepX mutant cells were unable to hydrolyze it, whereas this peptide was completely degraded by the S. thermophilus LMD-9 wild type cells. This hydrolysis was not due to leakage of intracellular PepX, as no peptide hydrolysis was highlighted in cell-free filtrate of wild type strain. Therefore, based on these results, it can be presumed that though lacking an export signal, the intracellular PepX might have accessed the ß-casomorphin-7 externally, perhaps via its galactose-binding domain-like fold, this domain being known to help enzymes bind to several proteins and substrates. Therefore, the identification of novel distinctive features of the proteolytic system of S. thermophilus will further enhance its credibility as a starter in milk fermentation.

The influence of breast milk and infant formulae hydrolysates on bacterial adhesion and Caco-2 cells functioning.

The aim of the study was to determine the concentration of BCM7 in human milk and infant formulae (IF) before and after eznymatic hydrolysis, and to evaluate the effect of obtained hydrolysates on interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion and on proliferation of enterocytes in the in vitro model (Caco-2 cells). This study evaluates also the effect of hydrolysates on the adhesion of intestinal microbiota isolated from faeces of both healthy (H) and allergic (A) infants. In the study we investigated breast milk delivered by mothers of healthy ('healthy milk'; HM) and allergic ('allergic milk'; AM) infants. Three infant formulae were investigated: from hydrolysed cow casein (IF1), from hydrolysed cow whey (IF2) and from whole cow milk (IF3). Intestinal bacteria: Bifidobacterium, lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Clostridium and Enterococcus were isolated from faeces of five healthy and five allergic infants. Mixtures of bacterial isolates and bacteria adhering to Caco-2 cells were characterised qualitatively with PCR-DGGE, and quantitavely with FISH. Concentration of BCM7 in breast milk and infant formulae was 1.6 to 8.9 times higher after enzymatic hydrolysis in comparison to undigested samples. The presence of this peptide resulted in alteration of intestinal epithelial proliferation and increase in secretion of IL-8. The quantitative profile of adherred bacteria applied as a mix of all isolates from healthy infants (H-MIX) was unchanged in the presence of HM hydrolysate and was modulated (increased number of beneficial Bifidobacterium and reduced commensal Enterobacteriaceae) in the presence of all IF hydrolysates. The presence of IF hydrolysates affected the profile of adhering isolates obtained from allergic infants (A-MIX) and reduced the adhesion of Enterobacteriaceae; the IF2 and IF3 hydrolysates decreased also the total number of adhering bacteria (TBN). However, a stimulating effect of AM hydrolysate on A-MIX adhesion (increased TBN) was observed.

Beta-casomorphin-7 prevents epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation of NRK-52E cells at high glucose level: Involvement of AngII-TGF-ß1 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia is the most important risk factor in the progression of renal fibrosis in diabetic kidney. Based on previous studies, ß-casomorphin-7 may exert anti-fibrotic activities in diabetic rats. However, the role of ß-casomorphin-7 in the pathogenesis of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis remains unclear. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the protective effect of ß-casomorphin-7 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of NRK-52E cells treated under hyperglycemic condition and to explore the possible mechanism. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: NRK-52E cells were cultured in high glucose (30 mM) for 3 days. Different concentrations of ß-casomorphin-7, naloxone (antagonist of opioid receptor) and losartan (antagonist of angiotensin II type I receptor) were added in the culture. Expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), E-cadherin, vimentin and cytokeratin19 mRNA were determined by real-time PCR. Protein levels of E-cadherin and α-SMA were analyzed by Western blotting. The concentrations of angiotensin (Ang) II and transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) in the culture medium were determined. RESULTS: High glucose-induced up-regulation of vimentin mRNA and α-SMA mRNA and protein were significantly inhibited by ß-casomorphin-7. On the contrary, high glucose-induced down-regulation of cytokeratin19 mRNA and E-cad mRNA and protein was significantly reversed by ß-casomorphin-7. ß-casomorphin-7 significantly alleviate high glucose induced increase of AngII and TGF-ß1 in the culture. Moreover, losartan significantly attenuated the expression of TGF-ß1 and EMT of NRK-52E cells treated under hyperglycemic condition. But naloxone did not affect the EMT of NRK-52E cells treated by high glucose and ß-casomorphin-7. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that ß-casomorphin-7 has the potential to inhibit high glucose-induced renal proximal tubular EMT partly by modulating AngII-TGF-ß1 pathway, but not by opioid receptor.

Aptamer-based sensing of ß-casomorphin-7.

ß-Casomorphin-7 (BCM-7), a seven amino acid peptide, is released during digestion of ß-casein A1 variant of milk which is speculated to be associated with certain diseases. Fifteen ssDNA aptamers having high affinity toward BCM-7 were identified from a 72 nt long random library after ten rounds of systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment. Dissociation constant values of selected aptamers were in the range of 7.7-156.7 nM. Seq6 aptamer exhibited the lowest Kd value. Nine aptamers were evaluated for their binding toward BCM-7, BCM-9A1, and BCM-9A2 peptides, and binding was variable. SeqU5 exhibited the lowest binding with BCM-9A1 and BCM-9A2. Aptamer-coated gold nanoparticles (GNPs) resulted in color change of GNPs in the presence of BCM-7, thereby establishing recognition of BCM-7 by aptamers. The enzyme-linked aptamer-sorbent assay (ELASA) was evaluated as an assay of BCM-7 in biological fluids. BCM-7-peroxidase competed with BCM-7 in ELASA, performed with BCM-7 solution and BCM-7 spiked urine pretreated with urease, plasma, and ß-casein digest samples.

Influence of candidate polymorphisms on the dipeptidyl peptidase IV and µ-opioid receptor genes expression in aspect of the ß-casomorphin-7 modulation functions in autism.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with population prevalence of approximately 60-70 per 10,000. Data shows that both opioid system function enhancement and opiate administration can result in autistic-like symptoms. Cow milk opioid peptides, including ß-casomorphin-7 (BCM7, Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro-Ile), affect the µ-opioid receptor (MOR) and are subjected to degradation resulting from the proline dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV, EC 3.4.14.5) enzyme activity. The presence of MOR and DPPIV activity are crucial factors determining biological activity of BCM7 in the human body. Our study examined the effect of ß-casomorphin-7 on the MOR and DPPIV genes expression according to specific point mutations in these genes. In addition, we investigated frequency of A118G SNP in the MOR gene and rs7608798 of the DPPIV (A/G) gene in healthy and autistic children. Our research indicated correlation in DPPIV gene expression under the influence of BCM7 and hydrolyzed milk between healthy and ASD-affected children with genotype GG (P<0.0001). We also observed increased MOR gene expression in healthy children with genotype AG at polymorphic site A118G under influence of BCM7 and hydrolyzed milk. The G allele frequency was 0.09 in MOR gene and 0.68 in the DPPIV gene. But our results suggest no association between presence of the alleles G and A at position rs7608798 in DPPIV gene nor alleles A and G at position A118G of the MOR and increased incidence of ASD. Our studies emphasize the compulsion for genetic analysis in correlation with genetic factors affecting development and enhancement of autism symptoms.

Release of ß-casomorphin-7/5 during simulated gastrointestinal digestion of milk ß-casein variants from Indian crossbred cattle (Karan Fries).

Crossbred Karan Fries (KF) cows, among the best yielders of milk in India are carriers of A1 and A2 alleles. These genetic variants have been established as the source of ß-casomorphins (BCMs) bioactive peptides that are implicated with various physiological and health issues. Therefore, the present study was aimed to investigate the release of BCM-7/5 from ß-casein variants of KF by simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGID) performed with proteolytic enzymes, in vitro. ß-Casein variants (A1A1, A1A2 and A2A2) were isolated from milk samples of genotyped Karan Fries animals and subjected to hydrolysis by SGID using proteolytic enzymes (pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin and pancreatin), in vitro. Detection of BCMs were carried out in two peptide fractions (A and B) of RP-HPLC collected at retention time (RT) 24 and 28min respectively corresponding to standard BCM-5 and BCM-7 by MS-MS and competitive ELISA. One of the RP-HPLC fractions (B) showed the presence of 14 amino acid peptide (VYPFPGPIHNSLPQ) having encrypted internal BCMs sequence while no such peptide or precursor was observed in fraction A by MS-MS analysis. Further hydrolysis of fraction B of A1A1 and A1A2 variants of ß-casein with elastase and leucine aminopeptidase revealed the release of BCM-7 by competitive ELISA. The yield of BCM-7 (0.20±0.02mg/g ß-casein) from A1A1 variant was observed to be almost 3.2 times more than A1A2 variant of ß-casein. However, release of BCM-7/5 could not be detected from A2A2 variant of ß-casein. The biological activity of released peptides on rat ileum by isolated organ bath from A1A1 (IC50=0.534-0.595µM) and A1A2 (IC50=0.410-0.420µM) hydrolysates further confirmed the presence of opioid peptide BCM-7.