Abstract
Milk is a heterogeneous lacteal secretion mixture of numerous components that exhibit a wide variety of chemical and functional activities. Casein, the main protein in milk, is composed of α-, β-, and κ-caseins, each of which is important for nutritional value and for promoting the release of cytokines, also are linked to the regulation of haematopoiesis and immune response and inhibit the proliferation and induce the differentiation of leukaemia cells. It has been shown that the digestive process of caseins leads to the release of bioactive peptides that are involved in the regulation of blood pressure and the inhibition or activation of the immune response by serving as agonists or antagonists of opioid receptors, thus controlling the expression of genes that exert epigenetic control. Later, they bind to opioid receptor, block nuclear factor κ-beta, increase the redox potential, and reduce oxidative stress and the pro-inflammatory agents that favour an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory environment. Therefore, the bioactive peptides of casein could be compounds with antileukaemia potential. This review provides a summary of current knowledge about caseins and casein peptides on the immune system as well as their roles in the natural defence against the development of leukaemia and as relevant epigenetic regulators that can help eradicate leukaemia.
Highlights
Milk is a heterogeneous lacteal secretion mixture of numerous components that exhibit a wide variety of chemical and functional activities
The major role of milk is to supply amino acids and nitrogen to young mammals, with use by adults being banned for most species; that is, humans are the only mammals known to consume the milk of another species, a unique behaviour that emerged during the Neolithic Revolution and that remains to this day. us, bovine milk has been an essential dietary staple for numerous human populations around the globe and an almost ubiquitous component of human nutrition [2, 3], regardless of the age of the consumer [4]
Studies in vitro suggest that caseins, and the peptides resulting from the enzymatic hydrolysis of casein, have antitumour activity, which agrees with studies in humans that show that a lower frequency of breastfed infants develop leukaemia [5], and a similar effect has been described for older adults who consume milk of bovine origin [6], which suggests some factors that are transmitted Journal of Oncology through breast milk may prevent the development of this disease [7]
Summary
Milk is a heterogeneous lacteal secretion mixture of numerous components (carbohydrates as oligosaccharides, lipids as long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, milk-specific microbiota, etc.) that exhibit a wide variety of chemical and functional activities. Us, bovine milk has been an essential dietary staple for numerous human populations around the globe and an almost ubiquitous component of human nutrition [2, 3], regardless of the age of the consumer [4] In this sense, among all mammals, bovine milk is the most studied; we focus on it, especially the protein fraction of bovine milk that consists mainly of two major families of proteins, caseins (insoluble) and whey proteins (soluble), as well as other minor proteins and peptides, such as hormones. Studies in vitro suggest that caseins, and the peptides resulting from the enzymatic hydrolysis of casein, have antitumour activity, which agrees with studies in humans that show that a lower frequency of breastfed infants develop leukaemia [5], and a similar effect has been described for older adults who consume milk of bovine origin [6], which suggests some factors that are transmitted. Further research is warranted to investigate the risk associated with milk intake
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
