Allergy Off Switch: Targeted Immune Tolerance Peptide for Alpha-Lactalbumin Allergy

Alpha-lactalbumin (ALA), a significant allergen in cow's milk, requires urgent preventative and therapeutic techniques. Peptide immunotherapy may modify allergic reactivity without cross-linking IgE, making it crucial to milk allergy treatment. In the present study, tolerogenic peptides of α-lactalbumin have been identified by constructing immune cells (MLN cells, splenocytes) from a mouse model of cow's milk allergy and co-culturing them in vitro with candidate peptides. The allergy model demonstrated significant alterations in physiological and biochemical indices within the experimental group. Subsequent co-culture of immune cells with candidate peptides revealed that peptide ALA AA (1-19) induced the expansion of Treg cells and promoted a tolerogenic phenotype in DCs. Taken together, these results led to the successful screening of ALA-tolerant peptides, which inhibited the release of allergy-related cytokines and induced the differentiation of immune cells toward the tolerant phenotype. This study provides a food-compatible peptide strategy for CMA management, with potential applications in hypoallergenic dairy products. Meanwhile, these findings laid the foundation for further validation in subsequent in vivo experiments.